[Clinico-physiologic characteristics of brain stem disorders in comatose states]

Informative signs for classification of disorders of consciousness were distinguished on the basis of clinico-physiological comparisons. Coma is characterized by failure of attempts to wake the patient, deep coma by muscular atonia, and protective inhibition coma by bilateral mydriasis. Opening of the eyes in response to a sound or pain is characteristic for the apallic syndrome, carrying out of instructions for deep stunning, answering questions for stunning. Clear consciousness is characterized by the patient's ability to orientate. Protective inhibition coma is always characterized by coarse changes of short latent evoked potentials in response to acoustic stimulation.