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Electroencephalograms during coma

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Summary

Data derived from the literature and from personal contributions concerning the EEG during coma are summarized as follows:

  1. 1.

    The electroencephalographic activity in coma due to (A) toxic and miscellaneous general disease, and to (B) neurological intracranial processes, is described.

    During coma manifold electrographic features can be encountered. As to neurological intracranial processes, 57% of cases revealed diffuse EEG changes, 27% unilateral changes, 6% focal changes and 10% normal or borderline records.

  2. 2.

    In the light of new experimental approaches some tentative explanations of the electrographic findings are discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Die Beiträge des Schrifttums und die eigenen Betrachtungen des Autors zur Frage des EEGs während verschiedener Comata können wie folgt zusammengefaßt werden:

  1. 1.

    Die EEG-Aktivität beim Coma infolge (A) toxischer oder sonstiger Allgemeinkrankheit und (B) neurologischer intracranieller Prozesse wird beschrieben.

    Während eines Comas finden sich mannigfaltige EEG-Veränderungen. Von den neurologischen intracraniellen Prozessen hatten 57% diffuse EEG-Veränderungen, 27% einseitige Störungen, 6% focale Befunde und 10% normale oder Grenzbefunde.

  2. 2.

    Einige Erklärungsversuche der EEG-Befunde werden im Zusammenhang mit neuen experimentellen Ergebnissen diskutiert.

Résumé

Les données de la littérature et les contributions personnelles concernant l'EEG pendant le coma sont résumées comme suit:

  1. 1.

    L'activité électroencéphalographique pendant le coma, due à la fois à un toxique ou à une maladie variable et à un processus neurologique intracranien est décrite.

    Pendant le coma de multiples trous électroencéphalographiques peuvent être rencontrés.

    Quant aux processus neurologiques intracraniens, 57% de cas révèlent des modifications diffuses à l'EEG, 27% des modifications unilatérales, 6% une atteinte focale et dans 10% des cas le tracé était normal.

  2. 2.

    Quelques tentatives d'explications des constatations électroencéphalographiques sont discutées à la lumière de récentes approches expérimentales.

Riassunto

I dati della letteratura e personali concernenti l'EEG durante lo stato di coma sono presentati e discussi come segue:

  1. 1.

    Vengono descritti i quadri EEG durante il coma dovuto a: (A) malattie tossiche e varie malattie extracerebrali, (B) malattie neurologiche da lesione intracranica.

    Durante il coma si possono riscontrare quadri EEG di tipo differente.

    Il coma da lesione intracranica si accompagna nel 57% dei casi ad alterazioni EEG diffuse, nel 27% dei casi ad alterazioni EEG unilaterali, nel 6% ad alterazioni EEG focali e nel 10% a tracciati normali o ai limiti della norma.

  2. 2.

    Alcuni recenti risultati sperimentali vengono utilizzati nel tentativo di offrire una spiegazione ai quadri elettrografici riscontrati durante lo stato di coma.

Resumen

Se resumen en la forma siguiente los hallazgos de la literatura y las observaciones personales sobre el EEG durante el coma:

  1. 1.

    Se describe la actividad electroencefalográfica durante el coma debido a causas tóxicas, enfermedades varias o procesos neurológicos.

    Durante el coma se pueden encontrar múltiples alteraciones electroencefalográficas.

    En lo que respecta a los procesos neurológicos intracraneales un 75% de los casos muestran modificaciones difusas del EEG, un 27% modificaciones unilaterales, un 6% alteración facial y en otro 10% el trazado es normal o en el limite de la normalidad.

  2. 2.

    Se discuten algunos intentos de interpretación de los hallazgos electroencefalográficos basandose en los recientes estudios experimentales.

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  1. Clinica delle Malattie nervose e mentali dell'Università di Genova, Italia

    Carlo Loeb

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Loeb, C. Electroencephalograms during coma. Acta neurochir 12, 270–281 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01402098

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