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'Locked-in coma' in postinfective polyneuropathy.

W M Carroll·F L Mastaglia
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Abstract

A patient with postinfective cranial and peripheral polyneuropathy exhibited the electroencephalographic and behavioral features of "alpha coma". The relation of this form of extensive peripheral disconnection to those cases with central disconnection due to pontomesencephalic lesions is discussed. We conclude that in both situations further evaluation of brain stem and cortical function is necessary to determine whether or not consciousness is preserved, rather than relying solely on the presence of ocular movements and reactivity of the electroencephalogram.

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ComaElectroencephalographyEye MovementsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPeripheral Nervous System DiseasesRespiratory Tract InfectionsVirus DiseasesCase ReportsJournal Article

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W M Carroll, F L Mastaglia. 1979. 'Locked-in coma' in postinfective polyneuropathy.. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1979.00500370076020

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PubMed2007

Predicting coma and other low responsive patients outcome using event-related brain potentials: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was performed to estimate the predictive power (odd ratio, OR) for awakening of auditory event-related potential (ERP) components in low responsive patients with stroke or hemorrhage, trauma, anoxic, post-operative, and metabolic encephalopathy etiologies. METHODS: We reviewed MEDLINE and analyzed citations for retrieved articles. Logistic regressions were applied on patient samples (Glasgow Coma Scale <12) across and for separate etiologies. RESULTS: For stroke and hemorrhage the ORs with 95% confidence intervals were: 2.05 [1.12-3.75] (N100), 4.47 [1.92-10.44] (MMN), 10.29 [2.00-52.79] (P300), for trauma: 1.63 [0.70-3.80] (N100), 4.72 [1.35-16.44] (MMN), 12.89 [4.82-34.43] (P300), anoxic: 8.03 [2.83-22.75] (N100), 15.50 [4.27-56.26] (MMN), 5.93 [2.38-14.77] (P300), post-operative: 10.66 [1.98-57.50] (N100), metabolic encephalopathy: 2.12 [0.34-13.13] (N100), 3.60 [0.28-46.36] (MMN), 7.71 [0.75-79.77] (P300), and all etiologies: 2.85 [1.91-4.27] (N100), 6.53 [3.55-12.01] (MMN), and 8.79 [4.88-15.83] (P300). Based on six N100 studies (N=548 patients), five MMN studies (N=470), and six P300 studies (N=313), the N100, MMN, or P300, when present, significantly predicted awakening, P300 and MMN being significantly better predictors than N100. CONCLUSIONS: The MMN and P300 appear to be reliable predictors of awakening. SIGNIFICANCE: The prognostic assessment of low responsive patients with auditory ERP should take into account both MMN and P300.

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