The Effects of Acoustic Stimulation on Comatose Patients

Simões, Jesus, Voegeli, Martins, Hall, and Simpson (2012)

E. Silva, and G. Cruz (Eds.), Comas and Syncope: Causes, Prevention and Treatment, pp. 1-31. Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers.

One of the most important clinical challenges in patients with severe brain damage is to estimate different aspects of their actual state of consciousness and, in particular, their residual conscious perception of the environment (Perrin et al., 2006; Boly et al., 2011). Different methods have been developed to quantify the preservation of responses in the ascending sensory systems and the projection areas, e.g., bedside behavioural assessment and analyses of short-latency event-related potentials (Perrin et al., 2006).

We developed a study that includes a detailed, objective and systematic analysis of the effects of acoustic stimulation on comatose patients using a standardised stimulus message. The curves of electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressure and pulse plethysmography and the parameters of pulse frequency, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure, oxygen saturation level and peripheral body temperature, were monitored before, during and after the auditory stimulation of the comatose patient with an unknown voice and a familiar voice. This study contributes to the reflection on the practice of communication with the unconscious patients, in order to sensitise health professionals to the importance of communication in the ICU, to contribute to improving the quality of care and help in establishing the prognosis.

Comas and Syncope: Causes, Prevention and Treatment. Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers.


Last updated 31/8/2021
lmtj@ua.pt
Luís Miguel Teixeira de Jesus

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