Covert Consciousness in the Intensive Care Unit

Joseph T Giacino; Brian L Edlow

doi:10.1016/j.tins.2019.08.011

Covert Consciousness in the Intensive Care Unit

Trends Neurosci. 2019 Dec;42(12):844-847. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2019.08.011. Epub 2019 Sep 10.

Authors

Joseph T Giacino¹, Brian L Edlow²

Affiliations

¹ Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, 300 First Ave, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 175 Cambridge Street - Suite 300, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.

PMID: 31514975
DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2019.08.011

Abstract

Claassen et al. performed task-based electroencephalography (EEG) in patients with disorders of consciousness in the intensive care unit (ICU) and found that covert consciousness detected by EEG is associated with better long-term outcomes. The diagnostic and prognostic uncertainty raised by these findings lead to pressing ethical questions concerning clinical management.

Keywords: assessment; coma; consciousness; electroencephalography; outcome.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Comment

MeSH terms

Brain
Brain Injuries*
Consciousness*
Electroencephalography
Humans
Intensive Care Units