Auditory brainstem response: prognostic value in patients with a score of 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale

To evaluate the prognostic value of auditory brainstem response (ABR) recorded in comatose patients presenting a score of 3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS = 3). One hundred thirty-eight patients in coma at GCS = 3 due to various etiologic agents. To record and analyze tracings of ABR. Tracings from ABR were classified into four types (B1, B2, B3, and B4) on the basis of synchrony of waves. The Fischer's exact test used for comparison between death proportions revealed that B1 is different from B2, B3, or B4 and the association B2 + B3 + B4. Auditory brainstem response is a useful tool with prognostic value for patients in coma with GCS = 3. It was demonstrated in our series that once the patient presented an abnormal ABR (B2, B3, or B4), he had a greater probability of dying than a patient with a normal ABR (B1).