To the Editor.—
Iso-electric electroencephalograms have usually been interpreted to constitute cerebral cortical death. However, a case of barbiturate overdose resulted in coma and iso-electric EEG; the EEG reverted to normal with complete recovery of the patient.
Report of a Case.—
A 69-year-old white woman was admitted to the San Antonio Community Hospital on July 18, 1969, in a comatose state. She had been despondent by the recent death of a son and could not be aroused from sleep on the morning of admission. She had received a prescription for "sleeping pills," but no bottle or suicide note was found.
Respirations were labored, and the blood pressure was 90/70 mm Hg. The pupils were in midposition, unresponsive to light, and corneal reflexes were absent. Extremities were flaccid, the deep-tendon reflexes absent, and the patient did not respond to painful stimuli.
A spinal tap demonstrated crystalclear fluid under normal pressure, with
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