Sensory stimulation of brain-injured individuals in coma or vegetative state: results of a Cochrane systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effectiveness of sensory stimulation programmes in patients in coma or vegetative state.


METHODS
Systematic review of randomized control trials (RCT) and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials (CCT) comparing any type of stimulation programmes with standard rehabilitation in patients in coma or vegetative state. The Injuries Group specialized register, the Cochrane Controlled trial register, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PSYCHLIT from 1966 to January 2002 were searched without language restriction. Reference lists of articles were scanned and experts in the area contacted to find other relevant studies. Abstracts and papers found were initially screened by one reviewer. Three reviewers independently identified relevant studies, extracted data and assessed study quality, resolving disagreement by consensus.


METHODS
Duration of unconsciousness (including coma and vegetative state) defined as the time between trauma and objective recovery of the ability to respond to verbal commands; level of consciousness, as measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS); level of cognitive functioning (LCF); functional outcomes, as measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) or by Disability Rating Scale; negative effects (e.g. increased intracranial pressure).


RESULTS
Three studies (one RCT and two CCTs) with 68 traumatic brain-injured patients in total, most of whom were road accident victims, met the inclusion criteria. The overall methodological quality was poor and studies differed widely in terms of study design and conduct. Moreover, due to the diversity in reporting of outcome measures, a quantitative metanalysis was not possible. None of the three studies provided useful and valid results on outcomes of clinical relevance for coma patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This systematic review indicates that there is no reliable evidence to support the effectiveness of multisensory stimulation programmes in patients in coma or the vegetative state.
UO di Riabilitazione Intensiva, Ospedale di Correggio, AUSL Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Francesco
F
Lombardi
Mariangela
M
Taricco
Antonio
A
De Tanti
Elena
E
Telaro
Alessandro
A
Liberati
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*