Auditive and somato-sensory event-related potentials in comas: prognostic value for awakening, social and professional reinstatement

Objective.-To appreciate prognostical value of event-related potentials in comatose states and the influence of the stimulation's modality. Patients and methods.-Thirty-five patients were recorded with the auditory modality whose thirteen were also recorded,with the somesthetic modality. They were free of sedation except for five. For 21 patients out of coma, it was possible to get information about their social readaptation 14 months later. Results.-When present, cognitive components predict awakening in 100% of the cases, but only 50% of the patients who awake had these components. The somesthetic modality seemed to enlarge their detection, but did not improve short-term forecasts. We could not confirm their absence could hamper social reinstatement. Conclusion.-Event-related potentials are strengthened as having excellent positive prognostic value. Further studies should clarify the interest of the somesthetic modality, and the possibility to get remote prognostic. (C) 2003 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.