ABSTRACT
Pacientes con daño cerebral y espasticidad son candidatos a terapia de baclofeno intratecal (ITB) cuando dosis máximas de antiespásticos orales no son efectivas. Algunos autores describen una mejora en el nivel de consciencia en pacientes con daño cerebral y alteraciones del nivel de consciencia. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 43 años con daño cerebral, espasticidad y estado vegetativo persistente que presentó mejora del nivel de consciencia tras administrar ITB para el manejo de la espasticidad. Durante la prueba de infusión de baclofeno intratecal monitorizamos la espasticidad según la Escala modificada de Ashworth y el nivel de consciencia mediante Coma Recovery Scale-Revised. Tras observar mejoría en Escala modificada de Ashworth y en Coma Recovery Scale-Revised, decidimos implantar la bomba de ITB y la paciente emergió de estado vegetativo persistente a estado de mínima consciencia. Sugerimos el beneficio añadido de ITB sobre el nivel de consciencia en pacientes con daño cerebral, alteraciones del nivel de consciencia y espasticidad, no existiendo evidencia suficiente para prescribirlo en el tratamiento de alteraciones del nivel de consciencia
Patients with brain injury and spasticity are candidates for intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB) when maximal doses of oral antispastic drugs fail. Some authors have described an improvement in the level of consciousness in patients with brain injury and disorder of consciousness treated with ITB for spasticity. We present the case of a 43-year-old patient with brain injury, spasticity, and permanent vegetative state (PVS) who showed an improvement in the level of consciousness after ITB for spasticity. We performed an ITB infusion test, assessing the spasticity with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and level of consciousness with the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and observed an improvement in the spasticity and the level of consciousness. Consequently, the ITB pump was implanted and the patient recovered from PVS to minimal conscious state (MCS). We conclude that ITB is indicated in patients with brain injury and spasticity. We suggest the improvement in the level of consciousness as a possible additional benefit. There is a lack of evidence to recommend ITB in patients with altered level of consciousness
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Quadriplegia/drug therapy , Muscle Spasticity/drug therapy , Baclofen/therapeutic use , Stroke Rehabilitation/methods , Stroke/drug therapy , Persistent Vegetative State/rehabilitation , Injections, Spinal/methods , Consciousness Disorders/drug therapy , Infusion Pumps, Implantable , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Patients with brain injury and spasticity are candidates for intrathecal baclofen therapy (ITB) when maximal doses of oral antispastic drugs fail. Some authors have described an improvement in the level of consciousness in patients with brain injury and disorder of consciousness treated with ITB for spasticity. We present the case of a 43-year-old patient with brain injury, spasticity, and permanent vegetative state (PVS) who showed an improvement in the level of consciousness after ITB for spasticity. We performed an ITB infusion test, assessing the spasticity with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and level of consciousness with the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and observed an improvement in the spasticity and the level of consciousness. Consequently, the ITB pump was implanted and the patient recovered from PVS to minimal conscious state (MCS). We conclude that ITB is indicated in patients with brain injury and spasticity. We suggest the improvement in the level of consciousness as a possible additional benefit. There is a lack of evidence to recommend ITB in patients with altered level of consciousness.
