par Mavroudakis, Nicolas 
;Zegers De Beyl, Diederik
Référence Reanimation Urgences, 1, 1, page (55-60)
Publication Publié, 1992
;Zegers De Beyl, Diederik Référence Reanimation Urgences, 1, 1, page (55-60)
Publication Publié, 1992
Article révisé par les pairs
| Résumé : | Short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials are a useful tool to explore the central nervous system at the levels of the spinal cord, the brainstem and thalamo-cortical structures. Although these potentials are very resistant to the actions of drugs they are very susceptible to anoxia and ischemia, two characteristics that are very useful for monitoring the patient in coma. Several studies deal with the prognostic significance of short-latency somatosensory potentials in coma of various etiologies. In anoxic-ischemic coma after cardiopulmonary arrest their place as a pronostic indicator seems clearly established : some studies indicate that the absence of the cortical potentials within 8 hours after coma onset excludes the recovery of cognitive function. This rule however does not apply to coma regardless of its etiology. The absence of cortical potentials in traumatic coma does not rule out recovery of cognitive functions. Thus clinical and physiopathological conditions have to be considered carefully if somatosensory evoked potentials are to be used for early definition of prognosis. © 1992 arnette S.A. |
