[Value of electroencephalographic serveillance in the framework of resuscitation in coma caused by acute drug intoxication]

The authors carried out long-term clinical and E.E.G. studies on 100 cases of acute drug poisoning. They made the following conclusions: - in unexplained coma, the E.E.G. can indicate toxic aetiology and may sometimes even suggest which drug is responsible, especially for certain chemical groups (barbiturates, phenothiasines, benzodiazepines); - the E.E.G. picture contributes a valuable indication of the depth of coma; the way in which it evolves affects the prognosis; - the effectiveness of therapy may be judged by monitoring cerebral electrical activity.