Detection of Consciousness in the Severely Injured Brain

摘要: Improvements in neurosurgical and neurological intensive care have led to increased numbers of survivors from severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Following coma, some patients undergo transition into prolonged disorders consciousness, including minimally conscious state (MCS) the unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS) [1]. The clinical hallmarks consciousness are arousal awareness. In chronic commonly reestablish subcortical functions arousal, but with decline or absence cortical functions, leading loss Whereas UWS show no responsiveness at bedside, MCS elicit fluctuating reproducible signs awareness their surroundings. By convention, emergence occurs when patient regains a capacity for functional communication object use. Long-term recovery remains uncertain, progression is an important indicator better prognosis.