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Galvanic vestibular tests in the assessment of coma and brain death
Author(s) -
Toglia Joseph U.,
Adam Rasheed U.,
Stewart George
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410090314
Subject(s) - coma (optics) , medicine , brainstem , vestibular system , brain function , audiology , neuroscience , psychology , physics , optics
Galvanic stimulation over the mastoid process elicits oculovestibular responses that provide a measure of brainstem function. The equipment is simple and is available in most neurodiagnostic laboratories. This type of test provides an advantage over caloric testing in the presence of external and middle ear disease and basal skull fracture and can be a useful adjunct in the evaluation of coma and brain death.