What is Coma ? A coma, sometimes also called persistent vegetative state, is a profound or deep
state of unconsciousness, persistent vegetative state is not brain-death. An individual in a state of coma is alive but unable to move or respond to his or
her environment. Individuals in such a state have lost their thinking abilities and awareness of their
surroundings, but retain non-cognitive function and normal sleep patterns. Even though those in a persistent vegetative state lose their higher brain functions, other key functions such as breathing and circulation remain relatively intact. Spontaneous movements may occur, and the eyes may open in response to external stimuli. Individuals may even occasionally grimace, cry, or laugh. Although individuals in a persistent vegetative state ma y appear somewhat normal, they do not speak and they are unable to respond to commands.
Causes of coma :1. Trauma
a. The skull skull is a rigid rigid box that protects protects the brain. brain. Unfortunate Unfortunately ly,, if the brain brain is injured injured and begins to swell (edema), there is no room for the additional fluid. This causes the brain to push up against the sides of the skull and it then compresses. Unless the pressure is relieved, the brain will continue to swell until it pushes down onto the brain steam, which then damages the RAS, which subsequently affects blood pressure and breathing control centers. b. Coma may occur occur even with a normal normal CT scan in this this situation. situation. Simila Similarly rly,, head trauma may cause swelling of the brain without any an y bleeding, and coma may ma y be the result. c. Head trauma trauma can cause cause different different types types of brain brain injury. injury. The injury injury can occur occur to the brain brain tissue itself or may cause bleeding to occur b etween the brain and the skull. 2.
Bleeding (Hemorrhage)
{ Intracerebral hemorrhage (intra= within + cerebral=brain + hemorrhage=bleeding) may be small, but it is associated swelling that may cause damage. Epidural, subdural, and subarachnoid hemorrhages} a. The lining lining of the brain brain has multipl multiplee layers, layers, and these these layers layers can act as potenti potential al spaces where bleeding can occur occ ur.. Epidural (epi= outside the dura= an outer layer of brain lining) and subdural (sub=below the dura) may ma y not cause coma immediately, but as the bleeding continues, it compresses the injured side of the brain and shifts it to the unaffected side.
Now both cerebral hemispheres are affected and loss of consciousness or coma may occur; the more swelling, the deeper the coma. b. Bleeding Bleeding can occur within within the the skull or brain brain without trauma. trauma. Blood accumulat accumulating ing in areas areas it should not be result with the same problem. Some medical causes include: •
•
•
•
3.
Hypertension (high blood pressure): when blood pressure is too high, and not controlled, blood vessels in the brain may not be able to tolerate the high pressure and may leak blood. Cerebral aneurysm, aneurysm, or an area in a blood vessel that is congenitally weak and ruptures. Some people are born with blood vessels that have a weak wall and it gradually balloons, like a weak spot in an inner tube. At some time in their life, or perhaps never, the weak spot gives way and blood is spilled into the brain. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) (AVMs) are abnormal blood vessels where arteries connect to veins and cause potential weak spots that can leak blood. blood . Normally, Normally, arteries branch into smaller and smaller vessels until they form the smallest set of vessels called capillaries. Capillaries form meshes where chemicals, nutrients, oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged from the blood stream to individual cells. The capillaries then merge to form larger blood vessels, the veins. In AVMs, AVMs, this relationship of artery to capillary to vein is abnormal. Tumors, either benign or malignant, can be very vascular (composed of many veins and capillaries) and have significant bleeding potential.
Swelling
a. While trauma trauma can make make the brain brain swell, swell, other types types of injury injury or insult insult can can cause cerebral cerebral edema (cerebral=brain + edema=swelling due to increased fluid). b. Whether the insult is lack of oxygen, abnormal electrolytes, or hormones, it may ultimately result in edema of the brain tissue. As with bleeding, the skull limits the space available for brain swelling to occur; thus the brain tissue is damaged and its function decreases the more it is compressed against the bones of the skull. 4.
Lack of oxygen
a. The brain brain requires requires oxygen oxygen to function; function; and without without it it the brain brain shuts down. down. There There is a very short time to get oxygen back to brain tissue before there is permanent damage. Most research suggests that the time window is four to six minutes. b. The body provides provides oxygen to to the brain brain through the the lungs. lungs. The lungs lungs extract extract oxygen oxygen from the air, hemoglobin in red blood cells pick up the oxygen, and the heart hea rt pumps blood through normal blood vessels to cells in the body. body. If any part of the system s ystem fails, the oxygen supply to the brain can be interrupted.
c. The most most commo common n failu failure re occu occurs rs with with heart rhythm disturbances. disturbances. The coordinated electrical beat of the heart is lost and the heart muscle doesn't squeeze blood adequately; no blood is pumped to the brain and it stops functioning almost immediately. d. Lungs Lungs can can also also fail fail;; examp examples les includ includee pneumonia, pneumonia, emphysema, or asthma or asthma.. In each case, inflammation in the lung tubes (bronchi or bronchioles) or lung tissue makes it difficult for oxygen to get into the lungs and transferred into the blood stream. e. Hemoglobin, Hemoglobin, a molecule molecule in the red red blood blood cell, attache attachess oxygen oxygen from the lungs lungs and delivers it to cells for use in metabolism. Anemia, Anemia, or low red blood cell count, can cause the brain to fail directly, directly, or more likely it causes other organs like the heart to fail. The heart, like any other muscle requires oxygen ox ygen to function. Anemia can occur chronically or it can be due to an acute blood loss (examples include trauma, bleeding from the stomach). If the blood loss is slow, the body is better able to adapt and tolerate low hemoglobin levels; if the bleeding occurs occu rs quickly, quickly, the body may be unable to compensate, the result being inadequate oxygen supply to tissues such as the brain. 5.
Hypoglycemic coma
a. All cells cells in the the body need glucose glucose and oxygen oxygen to to perform perform their their functions functions by aerobic aerobic metabolism (aerobic= with oxygen). While other parts of the body can continue for short periods of time anaerobically (an=without + aerobic+oxygen), the brain cannot. Without glucose, the brain stops. b. Hypoglycemia (hypo=low + glyc=glucose + emia= blood) most often oc curs in people with diabetes who have given themselves too much insulin insulin or have not taken in enough food.Monitoring blood sugars is critical to avoid hypoglycemic coma. 6.
Poisons
a. There are are two sources sources of poisons poisons that that can affect affect the brain, brain, those those that we we take in (through (through ingestion or inhaling) and those that the body generates and cannot dispose of in some way. b. If the body can be considered considered a factory factory,, it needs to to have the ability ability to to get rid of the the waste waste products that are made when the body generates energy. These waste products can cause different organs in the body to fail, including the brain. c. The liver liver performs performs many functi functions ons including including glucose glucose and protein protein manufact manufacturing uring.. It also breaks down and metabolizes chemicals in the body. When the liver fails different chemicals like ammonia can accumulate and can cause brain cells to stop functioning. Hepatic encephalopathy or hepatic coma occurs when the liver fails because of an acute or chronic injury. The most common is cirrhosis due to alcoholism. d. The kidneys kidneys filter filter blood to to rid the body body of waste waste products. products. When When the kidneys kidneys fail, fail, a variety of waste products can accumulate in the bloodstream and cause direct or o r indirect damage to the brain. An example of indirect causes would be an elevated potassium level
e.
f.
g.
h.
affecting heart electrical activity. Direct causes include uremia, uremia, where blood urea levels rise and are directly toxic to brain cells. Common causes of kidney of kidney failure include poorly controlled diabetes and high blood pressure. The thyroid thyroid acts acts as the thermos thermostat tat for the the body and regulat regulates es the speed speed at which which the body functions. If thyroid levels drop too low, gradually, gradually, over a period of time myxedema coma hypothyroidism. can occur because of profound hypothyroidism. Ingestions Ingestions can cause the the brain brain to slow slow down, down, speed up up or alter alter its perception perception of the world. world. Some ingestions may cause coma in an indirect way. way. Acetaminophen is a prime example, an overdose may cause the liver to fail and few days later subsequent hepatic coma occurs. Alcohol is Alcohol is probably the most common cause of ingested inge sted poison or toxin, leading to altered mental status and coma. In acute alcohol intoxication, the brain is directly poisoned. Blood alcohol levels fall when metabolized by the liver, but depth of intoxication can be so great it shuts off many of the involuntary brain activities that control breathing and maintain muscle function. Opiates like pain pills or heroin can cause similar slowing of brain function. Cocaine and amphetamines are the common "uppers" or brain stimulants. These brain stimulants cause an adrenaline-like body response, thus blood pressure and heart rate spiral out of control and the risk of heart attack, heart rhythm disturbances, or bleeding in the brain occur.
Assessment of comatose patients :When a patient presents in coma, diagnosis and treatment begin simultaneously. simultaneously. Initial treatment is aimed at addressing immediate life-threatening issues: •
•
•
Are the ABCs intact? Is the patient's airway open? Are they breathing? Do they have good circulation (a heart beat and blood pressure)? Is the patient hypoglycemic? The blood sugar is checked by a quick fingerstick bedside test and if it is low, glucose is administered. Did the patient ingest a narcotic? narcotic? Naloxone (Narcan) may be given intravenously to reverse an overdose situation.
a. History remains the important key to the diagnosis. Since the patient cannot be the source of information, questions are asked of family, friends, bystanders, and rescue personnel. For example, a person sitting at a bar fell down, hit his head and is in coma. While it might be easy to jump to the conclusion that he was intoxicated, fell, and bled in his brain, other scenarios need to be considered. Did he have a heart attack, did he suffer a stroke, or was this a diabetic medication reaction and the blood sugar is low.
b. Once the patient patient has been stabili stabilized zed with acceptable acceptable vital vital signs, signs, physical physical examination examination will include a complete neurologic assessment . From head to toe, this may include examination of the eyes, pupils, face move ments to assess cranial nerves including facial movement and gag reflex, extremity movement and reaction to stimulation, tendon reflexes and other testing of spinal cord function. There is special attention paid to symmetry in the neurology exam, since lack of movement or response on one side of the body may be caused by b y bleeding inside the skull or by stroke. General ex amination surveys the skin for cuts, scrapes, wounds, etc. c.
The GCS score will be documented; the deeper the coma, the lower the score.
1. Patient’s most significant person:
Name:
Relationship:
2. Patient's significant friends and family/and relationship:
Name:
Relationship:
3. Patient's favorite hobbies, sports, or interests: 4.Patient's favorite song or type of music: 5. Patient's favorite food, including desserts: 6. Patient's favorite perfume/cologne: 7. Patient's favorite material or texture: 8. Patient's favorite Television Television program and radio station: 9. Patient's typical daily routine: 1. Gets out of bed: 2. Showers: 3. Goes to work or school: 4. Relaxes or recreation time: 5. Goes to bed:
10. Any sensory deficits the patient had prior to injury: 11. Any comments:
Purpose of coma stimulation:Coma recovery programs aim to provide multiple sensory stimulation to patients in co ma or vegetative state. It is hoped that with with intense and repetitive stimulation, stimulation, the patient will awaken and return to a higher level of functioning. Coma arousal therapy is believed to provide the sensory stimulation needed to activate the reticular system, which is responsible for maintaining consciousness. These procedures are appropriate for any individual who is in in coma or vegetative state and is medically stable.
Rationale & goals of coma stimulation :i. ii. iii. iii.
iv. iv. v. vi.
May aff affect ect RAS RAS n incre increase ase arous arousal al n attent attention ion to to level level necess necessary ary to to percei perceive ve incomi incoming ng stimuli May improv improvee quanti quantity ty n quali quality ty of respon responses ses toward toward purp purpose oseful ful acti activit vity y May prev prevent ent envir environme onmenta ntall (senso (sensory ry)) depriva deprivatio tion, n, which which has been been show shown n to retard retard recovery and the development of CNS function and further depress impaired brain functioning Allows Allows for freque frequent nt monito monitorin ring g of of pt's pt's respon responsiv sivenes enesss May provid providee opportu opportunit nities ies for for pt. pt. to resp respond ond to to enviro environmen nmentt in an an adapti adaptive ve way May heig heighten hten pts' pts' resp respons onses es to sens sensory ory stim stimuli uli and and eventu eventuall ally y channel channel them into into meaningful activity
Principles of coma stimulation :i. ii. iii. ii. iv. v. vi. vi. vii. vii. viii viii.. ix. ix. x. xi. xii. xii.
Do no harm Avoid void or mini minimiz mizee stimul stimulati ation on progr programs ams with with comatos comatosee patien patients ts that that have have a ventriculostomy when ICP and/or CPP are still issues Cont Contrrol the envi enviro ronm nmen entt Organi anize the stimuli Explai Explain n to pt. pt. before before and and while while the the stimul stimulii are pres present entedA edAllo llow w extra extra time time for for pt. to to respond Cond Conduc uctt se sessi ssions ons fr freque equent ntly ly Selec electt mea meani ning ngfful stim stimul ulii Verba erball lly y rei reinf nfor orce ce resp respon onse sess Try stim stimul ulat atin ing g all all the the sens senses es Direct Direct treatm treatment ent toward toward increa increasin sing g the frequen frequency cy and and rate rate of resp respons onsee Avoid ov over st stimulat ulatiion Includ Includee part partici icipati pation on by family family and signif significa icant nt others others
Techniques of coma stimulation :1.
Approaching the Patient o
o
o
o
2.
Visual Visual Stimulation o
o
o
o
3.
Provide a visually stimulating environment at the bedside, such as colorful, familiar objects, family photographs (labeled), and TV 10-15 minutes at a time Provide normal visual orientation, by positioning patient upright in bed, in the wheelchair, etc. This also helps decrease complications of prolonged bedrest, such as pressure sores, breathing problems, osteoporosis, and muscle contractures Eliminate distraction to allow patient to focus on visual stimuli, such as a familiar face, object, photos, and on a mirror Attempt visual tracking after focusing is established, i.e. getting the patient to follow a stimulus with his/her eyes at it moves. Tracking usually begins in the center or midline.
Auditory Stimulation o
o
o
o
o
4.
Identify yourself Talk to the patient slowly, slowly, and in a normal tone of voice Keep sentences short and give the patient extra time to think about what you've said Orient patient to the date, time, place, and reason for being in the hospital, and explain to the patient what you are going to do
Provide regular auditory stimulation at the patient's bedside. All hospital staff should be encouraged to speak to the patient as they work in the room or directly with the patient. An information sheet can be posted in the room with information about the patient's likes and dislikes Permit only one person to speak at a time Use radio, TV, TV, tape recording of a familiar voice, etc. for 10-15 minutes at intervals throughout the day Direct work to focusing and localizing sound and look for patient's response when you change the location of a sound, e.g. call the patient's name, clap you hands, ring a bell, rattle, whistle, etc. 5-10 seconds at a time Avoid stimulation that evokes a startled response. This type of stimulation is counterproductive.
Tactile Stimulation Stimulatio n
Tactile input can be facilitory (encourage a desired response) or inhibitory (discourage/interfere with a desired response). For example, pain and light touch to the skin tend to produce an inhibitory response, while maintained touch, pressure to the oral area, and slow stroking of the spine tend to produce a facilitory response. The face, and especially the lips and mouth area, are the most sensitive. o
o
o
o
5.
Movement Stimulation o
o
6.
Use a variety of textures, such as personal clothing, blankets, stuffed animals, lotions, etc. Use a variety of temperatures, such as warm an d cold cloths or metal spoons dipped for 30 seconds in hot or cold water Vary the degree of pressure - firm pressure is usually less threatening or irritating to the patient than light touch. Examples include grasping a muscle and maintaining the pressure for 3 -5 seconds, stretching a tendon and maintaining the stretch for a few seconds, and rubbing the sternum Use unpleasant stimuli, such as a pinprick, with caution. Avoid Avoid ice to face or body, body, as it may trigger a sympathetic nervous ne rvous system response, i.e. increased blood pressure, heart rate, and salivation a nd decreased gastrointestinal activity
Use range of motion exercises, changes in body position such as a single or repetitive roll, a tilt table to bring the patient pa tient to a more upright position, and movement activities on a therapy mat Watch for early physical ph ysical protective reactions or delayed balance reactions during these activities
Kinaesthetic Stimulation Slow changes in position tend to be inhibitory, while faster movement patterns tend to facilitate arousal o
o
o
7.
Monitor the patient's blood pressure (and ICP if appropriate) during this stimulation Use position changes that are meaningful and familiar, such as rolling, rocking in a chair or on a mat, and moving from lying down to sitting Avoid spinning, which may trigger seizures, and mech anical input, such as raising and lowering the hospital bed, which has little functional meaning and produces limited response
Olfactory Stimulation
o
o
o
o
o
Use after shave, cologne, perfume, pe rfume, favored extracts, coffee grinds, shampoo, and favorite foods Provide the stimuli for no more than 10 seconds Avoid touching the skin with the scent, because patient may accommodate the scent and be less responsive to it Use garlic and mustard as noxious stimuli Avoid vinegar and ammonia because b ecause they irritate the trigeminal nerve
However, there may not be a response to smell stimulation because: o
o
o
8.
The olfactory nerve is the most commonly injured cranial nerve in TBI Many TBI patients have tracheostomies, which eliminate the exchange of air through the nostrils and therefore inhibit the sense of smell Patients have nasogastric tubes in place, which block one nostril and therefore decrease the sense of smell
Gustatory Stimulation o
o
o
Provide taste stimulation, unless patient is prone to aspiration - Use a cotton swab dipped in a sweet, salty, or sour solution, but avoid sweet tastes if the patient has difficulty managing oral secretions since sweet tastes increase salivation Provide oral stimulation during routine mouth care, unless patient d emonstrates a bite reflex Use a sponge-tipped or glycerin swab or a soft toothbrush to diminish hypersensitivity and abnormal oral/facial reflexes Use a flavored cleansing agent, such as mint or lemon, to increase oral stimulation during routine mouth care. Provide stimulation to the lips and area around the mouth. If patient demonstrates defensiveness to touch, such as pursing lips, closing mouth, or pulling away from the stimulus, gently continue with stimulation techniques to decrease defensive reactions and increase level of awareness. Do not attempt feeding of patients in coma.
Patterns of arousal :•
Persistent Persisten t Vegetat Vegetative ive State (PVS - in coma 3-6 months after trauma ) A syndrome of wakeful unresponsiveness in which patients are neither conscious o or in a coma. Neocortical damage prevents conscious thought, but the brainstem continues the o motor functions, such as breathing, sleep-wake cycles, coughing, etc.
o
There is no cerebral cortical function (purposeful responding, following commands, or speaking), but the patient can respond at a subcortical level (i.e. eye opening, visual tracking, postural reflexes, grasp reflex, etc.)
These patients may be admitted to a rehab program for a trial period of therapy therap y and to properly evaluate positioning and equipment needs, such as a bed, wheelchair, etc. •
•
Early Stages of Recovery Often characterized by inconsistency of response to stimulation, which may be o affected by time of day, position, and type of input. Chart and post the patient's responses, so family and rehab team members can o document the type of stimulus, patient response, and time of day to determine patterns that indicate increased levels of arousal throughout the day Capitalize on the documented periods of alertness and provide meaningful input o in the hope of expanding this state. Level III of RLAS - Localized Response Increase the frequency, variety, variety, consistency, and rate of response with the goal of o expanding the patient's response and channeling responses into simple activities Perform a stimulation oriented program on patients who can attend to an activity, o follow simple verbal or demonstrated commands, and use objects - e.g. catching or throwing a ball, matching activities, ac tivities, 1-piece puzzles, simple self-care activities. Progress to a structure oriented program when the patient progresses to Level IV. IV.
Programs :• • • • •
All the senses Last Lastiing appr apprx. x. 1515-20 min For 5 times in a da day Rest Restin ing g per perio iod d of of 2 to 3 hr hr in in bet betwe ween en Six days a week
Warning signs of sensory overload :i. ii. iii.
iv. v. vi. vi. vii.
Flushing Perspiring Prolonged increase in respiration rate Agitation Closing of eyes Sudd Sudden en decr decrea ease se in leve levell of of aro arous usal al Increas ease in in mu muscle to tone
Recent advances in coma stimulation therapy : Prolonged coma and vegetative state follow severe TBI in about 1 out of 8 pts with
severe closed-head injury (Levin 1991) The outcome for individuals in coma or vegetative state with non traumatic brain injury is
worse than that for those with TBI
(Sazbon 1993)
1950’s: Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential (I.A.H.P.): (I.A.H.P.): Prog. of environmental sensory input, at frequency, frequency, intensity, intensity, and duration far greater
than those in usual hospital setting, could enhance speed and degree of recovery from coma “In comatose patients, although problem is primarily cerebral, there is a condition of
environmental deprivation that could lead to widespread impairment of intellectual and perceptual processes accompanied by changes chan ges in cerebral electrical activity”
(Lewinn 1978)
The use of sensory stimulation for coma and vegetative state gained popularity in western
world, despite a lack of scientific evidence (W (Wood ood 1991, Zasler 1991, Andrews 1996,Giacino 1997) “Clinical experience has shown that patients exposed to an undifferentiated bombardment of sensory information lose ability to process information due to background noise (habituation) (Wood 1991) ’Sensory Regulation’ approach: based on the concept of regulating the wa y in which stimulations are delivered (i.e. create a quiet env ironment regulate the way in which staff communicate with pt,etc.) o (Wood 1992)
I. Autonomic reactivity to sensory stimulation is related to consciousness level after severe traumatic brain injury (Clinical Neurophysiology 117 (2006)1794–1807) Results: Both (HRV) (HRV) and skin conductance level (SCL) in reaction to sensory stimulation changed
with recovery to consciousness.
Indices of HRV and SCL that represent sympathetic activity of the au tonomic nervous
system (ANS) increased with recovery, whereas indices that represent pa rasympathetic activity decreased. Conclusions:
Recovery to consciousness is related to changes in SCL and HRV during sensory stimulation.
ANS reactivity to environmental stimulation can give objective information about clinical state of TBI pts, and can contribute to decision-making in treatment policy of unresponsive patients.
Significance: Autonomic reactivity can be informative concerning how a severely damaged nervous
system reacts to environmental stimulation and how, in a recovering nervous system, this reactivity changes.
II
The influence of acoustic and tactile stimulation on vegetative parameters and EEG in persistent vegetative state (Ingo Keller, Angelika
Hülsdunk, Friedemann Müller)
Conclusion: Non-specific acoustic stimulation and tactile stimulation led to a significant increase in
skin conductance response and in EMG activity in tactile stimulation condition, which which also showed an Greatest responses were obtained in effect on heart rate and EEG activity It could not be concluded that hearing the voice of relatives has an impact on information
processing in vegetative state. Pharmacological stimulation raises baseline activity of reticular activating system but
shows no interaction with sensory stimulation. stimulation for brain injured individuals individuals in coma or vegetative state (Review) III. Sensory stimulation (Lombardi F, Taricco M, De Tanti A, Telaro E, Liberati A)
Types of intervention Comparison of:i. ii. ii. iii. iii.
’Inten ’Intense se Multis Multisens ensory ory Stimul Stimulati ation on Progr Programm ammes’ es’ (IMS) (IMS) Form Formal aliz ized ed NotNot-In Inte tens nsiv ivee Stimu Stimula lati tion on Prog Progra ramm mmes es’’ Sens Sensor ory y Regu Regula lati tion on Prog Progra ramm mmes es’’ V/S
i.
1.
Standard rehab. Treatment Intense Multisensory Stimulation Programmes’ (IMS) –
e.g. Doman’s programme: stimulatory cycles cycles lasting approx 15 - 20 2 0 minutes, repeated every hour for 12-14 hours per day, six days a week. 2.
Formalized Not-Intensive Stimulation Prog. –
e.g. Mitchell and Wilson’s Wilson’s prog.: cycles of stimulation 10-60 minutes twice a day 3.
Sensory Regulation Prog. –
e.g. Wood Wood prog. : single brief sessions of stimulation in a quiet environment completely free of noise 4.
Standard Rehab. Treatment:
Aimed at reducing behavioural,cognitive and motor complications, with usual nursing interventions, swallowing treatment, nutrition, hydration, ph ysical therapy, therapy, and neuro pharmachological interventions.
Types of outcome measures:i. ii. ii. iii. iii. iv. iv. v. vi. vi.
Durati Duration on of uncons unconscio ciousn usness ess (inc (includ luding ing coma coma and veget vegetati ative ve state state): ): time time betwee between n trauma trauma and objective recovery of the the abi abili lity ty to resp respon ond d to to ver verba ball com comma mands nds.. Level Level of consc conscio ious usne ness ss,, as as meas measur ured ed by GCS GCS Level Level of Cogn Cognit itiv ivee Funct Functio ioni ning ng (LC (LCF) F) (Ha (Hage gen n 1979) 1979) Functi Functional onal outc outcome omes, s, as meas measure ured d by Glasg Glasgow ow Outcom Outcomee Scale Scale (GOS) (GOS) (Jen (Jennett nett 1975) 1975) or by Disability Rating Scale (Rappaport 1982) Adve Advers rsee ef effect fectss i.e i.e.. inc incre reas ased ed ICP ICP
A.
Study 1: Johnson 1993 •
Methods: RCT
•
Randomization method: not specified
•
Participants 14 male adults, affected by TBI from road traffic accident, with GCS < = 8,
•
consecutively admitted within 24 hours to the intensive care unit. Experimental group: group: 7 subjects, mean age 27.7 (12.3), mean GCS: 4.8 (1.9)
•
Control group : 7 subjects, mean age 31.4 (11.2) mean GCS: 4.8 (1.4)
•
Pts with neurological or psychiatric disorders, alcohol or drug abuse, or previous head
•
injuries were excluded. Interventions Experimental group: group: stimulation of five senses for 20-minute a da y for all their stay in ICU (median stay 8.1 days)
•
Order of stimulus presentation was randomized
•
Control group were not stimulated during same period (stay medium 3.7 days).
OUTCOMES
i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi.
GCS State of venti ntilati ation Spon pontane aneous ey eye mo movts. Ocul Oculoc ocep epha hallic res respons ponsee Ocul Oculov oves esti tibu bullar res respons ponsee Assess Assessed ed daily daily Catecho Catecholam lamine ine levels levels,, Serotoni Serotonin n level, level, Acety Acetylch lcholi olines nester terase ase level, level, 3methoxy,4-hydroxyphenylglicol, methoxy,4-hydroxyphenylglicol, skin conductance heart heart rate rate,, asses assessed sed 20 minut minutes es prepre- and post-t post-trea reatme tment nt peri period. od.
vii. vii.
B.
Study 2: Kater 1989 •
Methods: Controlled clinical trial. trial. 2 gps. matched for age, sex and type of injury
•
Participants 30 pts with traumatic brain injury (mean age 28 y, range 18-47, 18 male and 12 female), at least 2 weeks from the trauma, admitted at 2 different health care facilities
•
GCS :3-14
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length of coma: coma: 6 hrs - 6 months
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Subjects in control group (15) matched with pts in experimental gp (15) on basis ba sis of age, sex, type of injury, injury, GCS and length of time post-injury. post-injury.
•
•
Interventions Experimental group: group: stimulation of 6 modalities: visual, auditory, auditory, olfactory, cutaneous, kinesthetic, oral Treatment: started 2 weeks from trauma, 45 min., twice a day, day, 6 days/week for 1 to 3 month period
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Relatives encouraged to apply sensory stimulation.
•
Control group received nursing care without planned, structured sensory stimulation
OUTCOMES i. ii. ii. C.
Level of Cognit Cognitive ive Funct Functioni ioning ng (LCF) (LCF) measur measured ed 2 weeks post injury injury (basel (baseline) ine) and at 3 months months post injury Incl Inclus usio ion n crit criter eria ia wer weree broa broad d (e.g (e.g.. GCS GCS from from 3 to to 14) 14) Study 3: Mitchell 1990
•
Methods: Methods: Controlled clinical trial. Two groups matched on demographic characteristics,
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type and location of head injury, injury, surgical intervention and GCS on admission to hospital Participants: Participants: 24 patients with traumatic brain injury divided in 2 groups of 12 patients,
•
treated in the same Neurological Unit. Treatment group: group: 10 male and 2 female, mean age 22.3 (6.15), range 17-40; range GCS
•
admission 4-6 Control group : 10 male and 12 female, mean age 22.75 (6.77), range 17-42; range GCS
•
admission 4-6 Interventions Experimental group: group: visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, gustatory, kinesthetic and vestibular stimulation
•
The stimulation sessions started from 4 to 12 days following injury (mean 7.08 days).
•
Treatment lasted 1 hour for 1 or 2 times a d ay Control group did not receive arousal procedure at any time while in coma.
OUTCOMES i. ii.
Total tal du durat ration ion of of com comaa (da (day ys) Glasgow Co Coma Sc Scale (G (GCS)
Main results: 3 studies identified with 68 pts in total Overall methodological quality was poor and studies differed widely in terms of
outcomes measures, study design and conduct. Did not carry out any quantitative synthesis but reviewed results of available studies
qualitatively.
Author’s conclusions:I. II.
There There is no no reliab reliable le evidenc evidencee to suppor support, t, or rule rule out, out, the the effecti effectivene veness ss of mult multii sensor sensory y programmes in patients in coma or vegetative vege tative state. The revi review ew found found there there is is no stron strong g evidenc evidencee to deter determin minee whether whether sens sensory ory stim stimula ulatio tion n benefits people in coma
Assignment on
COMA STIMULATION THERAPY
Submitted by –
Darshika Vyas
Submitted to-
Dr. Sharmishtha Sharm ishtha Gadgil
(MPT II year)
