"Alpha-like" rhythms in electroencephalograms in coma after cariac arrest

Electroencephalograms (EEGs) of 12 comatose patients showed "alpha-like" rhythms after cardiac arrest. Four patients revealed a stage II sleep pattern and two patients showed signs of reactivity in their EEGs. One patient recovered with minimal impairment of memory, one patient lived for 3 months, and 10 died 3 ot 30 days after cardiac arrest. Examination of the brain demonstrated the usual anoxic lesions in three patients and "respirator brain" in one. In three patients with ventral pontine syndrome, a somewhat similar EEG pattern, but with distinct differences in topography and reactivity, was observed. In order to recognize alpha-like rhythms in comatose patients after cardiac arrest, EEGs should be recorded daily for several days.