Factors influencing the outcome of coma in severely injured patients.

Abstract

From this analysis we may conclude that the most important factors influencing the outcome of coma due to injury are age, vegetative state, level of coma, decerebration, and hypocapnia. In all cases where a combination of four or more of any of the above-mentioned factors was present the patient died. EEG seems less predictive in the early period, but may give some information for late prognosis.