Clinical accompaniments of the burst-suppression EEG pattern.

A burst-suppression pattern on the EEG following anoxic insult is usually associated with a poor prognosis. Myoclonic jerks may accompany the electrographic burst. On rare occasions oral, ocular, or appendicular movements can be associated with bursts of EEG activity recorded following cerebral anoxic insult. At times these movements may cause confusion about the patient's state of consciousness or the purposefulness of the movements; they may mimic volitional movements in response to external stimuli. To better describe the variety of movements that may accompany bursts of EEG activity in comatose patients, we review 12 cases where movements occurred in association with the electrographic bursts.