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 50
- Downloads 0
Editor Note Volume 3 Issue 1
The articles published in Volume 3, Issue 1 maintain the high standards for peer-reviewed journals. These articles are related to Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Animal Models, COVID-19 vaccines, Dentistry Data Analytics, and th...
A Point of Care Lateral Flow Assay for Rapid and Colorimetric Detection of Interleukin 6 and Perspectives in Bedside Diagnostics
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine and high bloodstream levels of which have been associated with severe inflammatory diseases, such as dengue fever, sepsis, various cancers, and visceral leishmaniasis (V...
Hydatid Cyst of Liver Ruptured in the Portal Vein
Introduction: The rupture of a hydatid liver cyst in the portal system is an exceptional complication. It has been reported only few observations in the world literature. We report a case a patient that we operated on fo...
Editor Note on Oral Antidiabetics Drugs: to Help Billions of Patients
Oral anti-diabetic drugs are drugs used to treat diabetes mellitus. They generally work by lowering blood sugar and their use depends on the nature of diabetes, the age and circumstances of the person, and many other fac...
Characterization of Patients in Fertile Age with Vaginal Flow Syndrome:Consultation No. 10. Plinlinico Pàrraga
Introduction: Vaginal discharge syndrome is an infectious process of the vagina with a florid symptomatology and psychosocial impact on the female population. Objective: To characterize the patients of childbearing ag...