Neuroanesthesia & neurocritical care
Acute traumatic coma awakening by right median nerve electrical stimulation: a randomised controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
Right median nerve electrical stimulation is a possible effective treatment for patients with acute traumatic coma
Study context
- Population
- Patients with acute coma 7–14 days after traumatic brain injury (TBI), 22 centres in China
- Participants
- 329 patients
- Comparison
- Right median nerve electrical stimulation plus routine therapy vs routine treatment
- Primary endpoint
- Proportion of patients who regained consciousness
- Follow-up
- 6 months post-injury
Methodological detailsmulticentre
- Multicentre
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
P = 0.004
Secondary outcomes
Median
| Outcome | RMNS | Control | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOSE · 3 months | 5 (IQR 3–7) | 4 (IQR 2–6) | P = 0.002 |
| GOSE · 6 months | 6 (IQR 3–7) | 4 (IQR 2–7) | P = 0.0005 |
| FOUR · 28 days | 15 (IQR 13–16) | 13 (IQR 11–16) | P = 0.002 |
Faster Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) and Disability Rating Scale (DRS) improvement (trajectory analysis)
- Significantly more RMNS patients had faster GCS improvement
- P = 0.01
- Significantly more RMNS patients had faster CRS-R improvement
- P = 0.004
- Significantly more RMNS patients had faster DRS improvement
- P = 0.04
Safety
- Similar in both groups
- No serious adverse events associated with the stimulation device
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Acute traumatic coma awakening by right median nerve electrical stimulation: a randomised controlled trial. Intensive Care Med. Published 13 May 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →