Lancet
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Studies to assess the prognostic value of early neurological and neurophysiological findings in patients with anoxic-ischaemic coma have not led to precise, generally accepted, prognostic rules. We did a systematic review of the relevant literature to assess whether such rules could be derived from the combined results of these studies. ⋯ SSEP has the smallest CI of its pooled positive-likelihood ratio and its pooled false-positive test rate. Because evoked potentials are also the least susceptible to metabolic changes and drugs, recording of SSEP is the most useful method to predict poor outcome.