Pflügers Archiv : European journal of physiology
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Clinical Trial
Brainstem auditory evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials in prediction of posttraumatic coma in children.
Follow-up brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) studies were performed within 72 hours after admission in 127 children with severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score of < or = 8) in order to predict quo ad vitam outcome of posttraumatic coma. Outcomes were categorised as brain death and survival. ⋯ All of them died. Thus, comatose children with normal EP studies have in 78% good prognosis and a bad outcome can be reliably predicted.