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A B Grindal

Publications and source records attributed to A B Grindal.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1977

Alpha-pattern coma: 24 cases with 9 survivors.

Alpha-pattern coma denotes the association of a comatose state with an electroencephalogram consisting predominately of alpha-frequency activity. Over the past three years we have studied 24 such cases: 14 following cardiopulmonary arrest, 6 following respiratory arrest, and 3 following brainstem infarction. Of the 9 patients who survived, only 1 had a significant neurological deficit. It was found that: (1) alpha-pattern coma can result from a variety of neurological insults; (2) a significant proportion of patients survive, often with little or no deficit; (3) clinical evidence of intact brainstem function implies a favorable outcome; (4) the electroencephalogram was similar in survivors and nonsurvivors and did not differentiate diffuse cerebral dysfunction from focal brainstem disease; and (5) neuropathological studies demonstrated diffuse cortical as well as brainstem changes.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

"Alpha-pattern coma" in high voltage electrical injury.

Two cases are reported in which reversible deep coma subsequent to high voltage electrical injury occurred in association with alpha frequencies in the EEG. The EEG pattern differs from the alpha rhythm of the normal awake patient by its diffuse distribution and unresponsiveness to a variety of stimulation. The term "alpha-pattern coma" is introduced to designate the occurrence of this pattern in comatose patients. The EEG in the cases described initially demonstrated activity in the alpha frequency which occurred in a generalized distribution and was unresponsive to stimulation. During the early stages of recovery an increased incidence of theta and delta activity was observed. The recovery records contained a low voltage alpha rhythm and responded to photic stimulation. The literature on this subject is reviewed and the possible modes of pathogenesis are discussed. The authors conclude that such examples of alpha-pattern coma are the result of diffuse cerebral damage and might be detected more frequently in comatose patients who survive if these patients are studied earlier in their clinical course with EEGs.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebral infarction in young adults.

The etiologic and prognostic features which characterize cerebrovascular disease in the later decades of life are not applicable in younger patients. The records of 58 patients who had suffered cerebral infarction between the ages of 15 and 40 were reviewed in order to study these features. Fifty-five percent of the patients were found to have had an identifiable etiology for their cerebral infarction, with nearly half of these suffering from embolic infarction of cardiac origin. In 45% no clear etiology could be established but hypertension was prevalent in those patients between 31 and 40 years of age. Follow up data were obtained on 68% of the hospital survivors; nearly 3/4 of them had completely recovered or had improved.

Adolescent↗