OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of standard electroencephalogram (EEG) in predicting the improvement of the level of consciousness in patients suffering from severe disturbances of consciousness following coma caused by acute brain injuries. METHODS: A standard EEG was recorded at admission in our rehabilitation department in a total of 46 patients with impaired consciousness states following coma (22 patients with traumatic brain injuries, 24 patients with non-traumatic brain injuries). We quantified the EEG abnormalities using the scale of Synek (1988) and correlated them with the basal level of cognitive functioning (LCF) scale score and with its variation after three months. RESULTS: EEG scores correlated with LCF scores at admission (p<0.01) and with LCF scores' variation after three months (p<0.01) in patients with traumatic brain injury; EEG scores correlated only with LCF scores variation after three months (p<0.01) in patients with non-traumatic brain injury. CONCLUSIONS: Standard EEG, analysed using the Synek scale, has a good prognostic value in both groups of patients with disorders of consciousness. SIGNIFICANCE: This work may have implications for clinical care, rehabilitative programs and medical-legal decisions in patients with impaired consciousness states following coma due to acute brain injuries.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of standard electroencephalogram (EEG) in predicting the improvement of the level of consciousness in patients suffering from severe disturbances of consciousness following coma caused by acute brain injuries. METHODS: A standard EEG was recorded at admission in our rehabilitation department in a total of 46 patients with impaired consciousness states following coma (22 patients with traumatic brain injuries, 24 patients with non-traumatic brain injuries). We quantified the EEG abnormalities using the scale of Synek (1988) and correlated them with the basal level of cognitive functioning (LCF) scale score and with its variation after three months. RESULTS: EEG scores correlated with LCF scores at admission (p<0.01) and with LCF scores' variation after three months (p<0.01) in patients with traumatic brain injury; EEG scores correlated only with LCF scores variation after three months (p<0.01) in patients with non-traumatic brain injury. CONCLUSIONS: Standard EEG, analysed using the Synek scale, has a good prognostic value in both groups of patients with disorders of consciousness. SIGNIFICANCE: This work may have implications for clinical care, rehabilitative programs and medical-legal decisions in patients with impaired consciousness states following coma due to acute brain injuries.
Authors: Catherine Duclos; Marie Dumont; Caroline Arbour; Jean Paquet; Hélène Blais; David K Menon; Louis De Beaumont; Francis Bernard; Nadia Gosselin Journal: Neurology Date: 2016-12-21 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Peter B Forgacs; Mary M Conte; Esteban A Fridman; Henning U Voss; Jonathan D Victor; Nicholas D Schiff Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 2014-10-24 Impact factor: 10.422
Authors: Alexander A Fingelkurts; Andrew A Fingelkurts; Sergio Bagnato; Cristina Boccagni; Giuseppe Galardi Journal: PLoS One Date: 2011-10-05 Impact factor: 3.240