Beta wave activity in the electroencephalogram in cases of coma due to acute brain-stem lesions.

Abstract

Three patients suddenly became comatose, showed various neurological symptoms of brain-stem lesions such as myosis, upward deviation of the eye-balls, decerebrate rigidity, bilateral pathological reflexes, respiratory distress and low-voltage fast activity electroencephalograms. All died within 30 hr. of the onset of coma. At necropsy occlusions and marked stenosis of the vertebral and basilar arteries were found in 2 cases while the 3rd showed neither cerebral arteriosclerosis nor significant intracerebral pathology. Study of these cases revealed a possible relationship existing between acute severe brainstem lesions and low-voltage fast activity, particularly with fast activity. In the eeg this clinical evidence can be correlated with results of animal experiments reported in the literature whereby disturbances of the brain-stem were caused by transection or by strong stimulation.