Assessment of Covert Consciousness in the Intensive Care Unit: Clinical and Ethical Considerations.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To propose a practical ethical framework for how task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) may be used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to identify covert consciousness in patients with acute severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

We present 2 clinical scenarios in which investigational task-based fMRI and EEG were performed in critically ill patients with acute severe TBI who appeared unconscious on the bedside behavioral assessment. From these cases, we consider the clinical and ethical challenges that emerge and suggest how to reconcile them. We also provide recommendations regarding communication with families about ICU patients with covert consciousness.

Results

Covert consciousness was detected acute

SUBMITTER: Edlow BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6317885 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov/Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature