ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify care strategies developed by professionals from critically ill patients' units in communicating BD with parents of children and adolescents. Methods: an exploratory and descriptive research with a qualitative approach, carried out in two health institutions between October and December 2019, through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis took place through content analysis. Results: twenty-one professionals participated. Three care strategies were identified: actual clinical situation in suspected brain death; sensitizing families to the real clinical situation after brain death diagnosis; and time to assimilate the death information. Final Considerations: the care strategies for communicating brain death to families identified in this study present the possibility of subsidizing health managers in training and support promotion for professionals in care practice. Moreover, they can be incorporated and validated in the care practice of the studied context.
RESUMEN Objetivos: identificar las estrategias de atención desarrolladas por profesionales de pacientes críticos en la comunicación de la muerte encefálica con los padres de niños y adolescentes. Métodos: investigación exploratoria y descriptiva con enfoque cualitativo, realizada en dos instituciones de salud entre octubre y diciembre de 2019, a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas. El análisis de los datos se llevó a cabo a través del análisis de contenido. Resultados: participaron 21 profesionales. Se identificaron tres estrategias de atención: situación clínica real ante la sospecha de muerte encefálica; sensibilizar a la familia sobre la situación clínica real tras el diagnóstico de muerte encefálica; y tiempo para asimilar la información de la muerte. Consideraciones Finales: las estrategias de cuidado para comunicar la muerte encefálica a las familias identificadas en este estudio presentan la posibilidad de subsidiar a los gestores de salud en la promoción de la formación y apoyo a los profesionales en la práctica del cuidado. Además, pueden ser incorporados y validados en la práctica asistencial del contexto estudiado.
RESUMO Objetivos: identificar estratégias de cuidados desenvolvidas pelos profissionais das unidades de pacientes críticos na comunicação da morte encefálica junto aos pais de crianças e adolescentes. Métodos: pesquisa exploratória e descritiva com abordagem qualitativa, realizada em duas instituições de saúde entre outubro e dezembro de 2019, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. A análise dos dados ocorreu através da análise de conteúdo. Resultados: participaram 21 profissionais. Foram três estratégias de cuidados identificadas: real situação clínica na suspeita de morte encefálica; sensibilizando a família da real situação clínica após o diagnóstico de morte encefálica; e tempo para assimilar a informação da morte. Considerações Finais: as estratégias de cuidados para comunicação de morte encefálica às famílias identificadas neste estudo apresentam a possibilidade de subsidiar gestores de saúde na promoção de capacitações e apoio aos profissionais na prática assistencial. Além disso, podem ser incorporadas e validadas na prática assistencial do contexto estudado.
ABSTRACT
Only a fraction of patients in coma secondary to a primary acute brain injury develop a vegetative state (VS). At least 20% of patients show late transitions to a minimally conscious states (MCS). They are particularly common in young adults with traumatic brain injury. The main problems faced by clinicians are the diagnostic accuracy of VS and MCS as well as the usefulness of sophisticated paraclinical investigations. Specific therapies are of limited effectiveness. This population is vulnerable to misdiagnosis and limited access to medical care and rehabilitation, thus generating ethical problems.
Subject(s)
Humans , Brain Injuries/complications , Coma/etiology , Persistent Vegetative State/etiology , Palliative Care , Prognosis , Time Factors , Coma/diagnosis , Coma/therapy , Persistent Vegetative State/diagnosis , Persistent Vegetative State/therapy , Recovery of Function , Diagnosis, DifferentialABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical benefits of early right median nerve electrical stimulation on coma patients following craniocerebral trauma. MethodsCraniocerebral trauma patients with up to two weeks of coma in the years 2005-2011 were involved in the study and were randomly divided into control group (received routine management ) and treatment group (routine management plus right median nerve electrical stimulation).The treatment lasted for a period of more than two weeks.The clinical efficacy of the right median nerve electric stimulation and the conscious status of the patients within six months after craniocerebral trauma were observed.ResultsA total of 456 patients were enrolled in the study,of whom 437 patients completed the treatment course,including 221 patients in the treatment group and 216 in the control group.There was no complication related to electric stimulation during the treatment.Cerebral blood flow (CBF) imaging and brain stem evoked potential (BEP) examination demonstrated significant improvement in the treatment group.A total of 386 patients were followed up for six months postoperatively,which showed that there were 122 patients with regained consciousness,46 in minimally conscious state and 36 in vegetative state in the treatment group (204 patients) and there were 84 patients with regained consciousness,40 in minimally conscious state and 58 in vegetative state in the control group ( 182 patients).The patients in the treatment group showed a higher ratio of regained consciousness and a lower ratio of vegetative state compared with the control group,but the ratio of minimally conscious state showed no statistical difference between two groups. ConclusionsRight median nerve electrical stimulation is a suitable coma awaking means at early stage after craniocerebral trauma.