Early abolition of cough reflex predicts mortality in deeply sedated brain-injured patients.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Deep sedation may hamper the detection of neurological deterioration in brain-injured patients. Impaired brainstem reflexes within the first 24 h of deep sedation are associated with increased mortality in non-brain-injured patients. Our objective was to confirm this association in brain-injured patients.

Methods

This was an observational prospective multicenter cohort study involving four neuro-intensive care units. We included acute brain-injured patients requiring deep sedation, defined by a Richmond Assessment Sedation Scale (RASS) < -3. Neurological assessment was performed at day 1 and included pupillary diameter, pupillary light, corneal and cough reflexes, and grimace and motor response to noxious stimuli. Pre-sedation Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Simplifi

SUBMITTER: Kandelman S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7700733 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature