Prognostic utility of SEPs in comatose children.

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded in 73 comatose children upon admission to the intensive care unit and were studied in respect to initial neurologic status and final outcome. SEP results were graded normal, increased interpeak latencies, and unilaterally or bilaterally absent cortical responses. Of the 50 patients with Glasgow Coma Scale scores less than 7 upon admission, only 3 had SEPs within the normal range, while 37 had unilaterally or bilaterally absent SEPs. None of the 27 who died had normal SEPs; 1 had increased interpeak latencies, 26 had more abnormal SEPs. The 14 with normal outcomes had normal (9 patients) or delayed (4 patients) SEPs; the latter group returned to normal within a few days. Repeat SEP studies were performed in 33 patients. SEPs were relatively stable during the intensive care observation, with the exception of 6 patients with Reye syndrome. Subsequent studies are recommended in all patients, but are essential in those with Reye syndrome in order to be useful prognostically. The utility of SEPs did not vary as a function of coma etiology. These data support the usefulness of SEPs in early prediction of neurologic outcome in comatose children.