The use and the potential of auditory electrophysiology in patients in posttraumatic coma

: 21 patients in post-traumatic coma status were submitted to a auditory electrophysiological valuation together with EEG, TC, and "Glasgow Coma Scale" (GCS) with the purpose to obtain the relative prognostic value quoad vitam and quoad valetudinem. In particular it was carried out the brainstem auditory evoked potentials (ABR) and the auditory middle latency potentials (MLR and SSR-40 Hz). 12 patients survived and their clinical conditions were classified according to the "Glasgow Outcome Scale"; 9 of 21 patients died. With the aim of quoad vitam prognosis, the ABR showed a good reliability whereas GCS, EEG, TC and MLR proved not much usefulness. On the contrary the absence of SSR-40 Hz always coincided with the subsequent patients death. With the aim of GOS a meaningful relationship was found between the clinical outcome conditions from coma and the improvement in MLR and EEG.