Introduction: Alpha coma is defined as the appearance, in an unconscious patient, of EEG activity in the alpha frequency band (8-13Hz).
Objective: To determine, in our setting, the incidence, aetiology, clinical significance and course of alpha coma in paediatric patients and review the literature.
Patients and methods: We did a retrospective study of the patients admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit who had alpha activity recorded whilst in coma.
Results: Only two patients, aged 5 and 12 years, were found. Both had complex congenital cardiopathy and cardio-respiratory arrest one and twelve days postoperatively, respectively. Several EEGs were done whilst they were in coma. Barbiturate coma was not used. Both had clinical mid-brain involvement during alpha recording. The pattern was bilateral, arreactive and preceded by a theta pattern, appeared two days after the arrest, was maintained for two and three days in the two cases and was followed by delta pattern. The second case finally showed a 'burst-suppression'. The CAT was normal. The patients died 4 and 11 days after the appearance of alpha coma.
Conclusions: Alpha coma is rare in childhood. Both the aetiology and the bad prognosis are similar to that of adults. Alpha coma is a transient EEG pattern occurring during the evolution of coma. We consider it to be due probably to mid-brain involvement.