Prognostic criteria in anoxic and traumatic coma
II. The Posttraumatic coma

Abstract

One of the more difficult problems facing intensivists is understanding the natural history of comatose patients and their possibility of recovery. This question has, also, forensic and juridicial aspects.
The clinical examination of patients with anoxic coma can by very helpful in determining outcome.
For traumatic coma, the clinical examination is unreliable and electrophysiologic testing is much more useful. Of those usually available, BAEP and SEP within the first week appear to be complementary, with bilateral absence of cortical components indicating poor prognosis. Unilateral absence of the cortical components is still compatible with recovery. It is unclear how much incremental information is added by EEG, although it detects an important number of patients with poor prognosis.

Key words: traumatic coma, prognosis

Jurnalul Român de Anestezie Terapie intensivă 2002 Vol.9 Nr.1, 41-46

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Criteriologia prognostică a comei anoxice şi traumatice
II. Coma posttraumatică