Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Therapy Reduces Time to Emergence and Arousal from TBI-induced Prolonged Coma: A Pilot Study
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical and Medical Research - Year 2020, Vol 2, Issue 3
Abstract
Objective: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) continues to be a significant cause of death and disability in the United States and is commonly due to sudden, forceful impacts to the head. This may lead to disruption of neurological and neurochemical functioning of the brain, resulting in coma (Glascow Coma Scale score (GCS) ?8). The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential effect of Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors(SSRI), sertraline, on improvement in the level of consciousness and motor function in patients with prolonged, refractory coma after severe TBI. It has been theorized that the administration of SSRIs may shorten the time to emergence from comain trauma victims presenting with low GCS scores. Methods: The data from 14 trauma patients with severe TBI and Refractorycoma (RC) as defined by a GCS score <8 (coma) for >6 days admitted to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at a busy urban level 1 trauma center was retrospectively collected and screened. The patients were started on sertraline between 7 to 21 days after sustaining TBI-induced coma, principally based on attending judgment and preference, and were compared to a control group of similar TBI-induced prolonged coma patients admitted to the ICU during the study period who did not receive SSRI therapy. Results: In the study, 100% of the SSRI group became aroused to a GCS >8 and 66.7% (6/9) emerged to a minimally conscious state or regained consciousness based on a GCS scores >9 or 9T over a period of 11.9 days after initiation of therapy whereas 60% of control patients (3/5) emerged from coma. Conclusion: SSRI therapy using Sertraline may be associated with shorter time to emergence and improved reactiveness in patients with prolonged refractory coma states post-TBI.
Authors and Affiliations
Omar Danner K1*, Quiana Kern2, Ray Matthews1, Richard Sola Jr1, Caroline Butler1, Kahdi Udobi1, Jonathan Nguyen DO1, Mark Heinrich3, Faiz Ahmad4, Ernest Alema-Mensah5 and Ed Childs1
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP708394
- DOI https://doi.org/10.37191/Mapsci-2582-4333-2(3)-037
- Views 78
- Downloads 0
Presence of Proteins in 17% EDTA after Contact with the Bovine Dentine
EDTA 17% is a solution frequently used in endodontics for the extraction of the mineralized remains of dentine from the root canals. Its chelating action could affect the dentine making it susceptible to insults. The obj...
Rares Diseases and Handicap: State of the Medical, Social and Health Policy in Developing Countries. Cameroon Case: About One Case: Cushing Disease
Rare's diseases and orphan's diseases, disability (orhandicap) are a reality throughout the world and a real public health problem in developing countries. The great precariousness in which the populations live increases...
Description and Clinical Overview of 300 cases of Patients Suffering from Chronic Pain in Underdeveloped Countries; Cameroon Case; Lomié Health District
Introduction: Pain is a real public health issue, a criterion for the quality and evolution of a health system: it is a major problem of society in poor countries. In Cameroon, chronic pain is rarely diagnosed and adequa...
Epidemiological Profile of the Cancer AR the Regional Hospital of Ngaoundere (Cameroon)
Objective: To determine the epidemiologic profile of tumours at the regional hospital of Ngaoundere. Materials and methods: It were a descriptive retrospective design study carried out over a period of five years (2011-2...
Anaesthesia Concerns in Apert Syndrome - A Case Report
Apert syndrome (AS) a type of acrocephalosyndactyly is a rare congenital disorder with the autosomal dominant mode of transmission that consists of craniofacial synostosis, midfacial hypoplasia, and bilateral limb syndac...