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SSEPs and prognosis in postanoxic coma

Only short or also long latency responses?

From the Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to DrT.M. Koelman, Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, D2-112 Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; e-mail: j.h.koelman{at}amc.uva.nl

Background: Short latency somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) (N20) is a good predictor of poor outcome in postanoxic coma. It has been suggested that the long latency response (N70) may increase the sensitivity of SSEPs for predicting poor outcome.

Methods: As part of a prospective cohort study in 407 adult patients unconscious 24 hours after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), N20 was recorded 24, 48, and 72 hours after CPR, and N70 was recorded at least once in 319 patients. Poor outcome was defined as death or persistent vegetative state 1 month after CPR.

Results: Absent N20 had a 0% false positive test rate at all time intervals, with prevalence of poor test result varying from 37 to 48%. Addition of abnormal N70 (absent or delayed > 130 msec) with present N20 as poor test result added 21 to 28% to this prevalence, but at the cost of a false positive test rate of 4 to 15%. Good outcome could not be predicted reliably with either of the tests, as only 28% of patients with normal N20 and N70 had a good outcome.

Conclusion: Determination of presence or absence of the N70 in patients with postanoxic coma gives additional information about the likelihood of poor outcome, but it is not precise enough to base treatment decisions solely on its absence.

Additional material related to this article can be found on the Neurology Web site. Go to www.neurology.org and scroll down the Table of Contents for the August 22 issue to find the title link for this article.

See also page 556

*Members of the PROPAC-Study Group are listed in the appendix.

Supported by grants from the Dutch Heart foundation (Nederlandse Hartstichting) and the Dutch Brain Foundation (Hersenstichting Nederland).

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Received February 7, 2006. Accepted in final form May 10, 2006.

Related articles in Neurology:

Prognostication and management of patients who are comatose after cardiac arrest

Thomas P. Bleck
Neurology 2006 67: 556-557. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Z. de Beyl, E .G.J. Zandbergen, J .H.T.M. Koelman, R .J. de Haan, and A . Hijdra SSEPs and prognosis in postanoxic coma: Only short or also long latency responses? Neurology, March 13, 2007; 68(11): 877 - 877. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. P. Bleck Prognostication and management of patients who are comatose after cardiac arrest. Neurology, August 22, 2006; 67(4): 556 - 557. [Full Text] [PDF]

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