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Rubin MA, Lewis A, Creutzfeldt CJ, Shrestha GS, Boyle Q, Illes J, Jox RJ, Trevick S, Young MJ. Equity in Clinical Care and Research Involving Persons with Disorders of Consciousness. Neurocrit Care 2024; 41:345-356. [PMID: 38872033 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-024-02012-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
People with disorders of consciousness (DoC) are characteristically unable to synchronously participate in decision-making about clinical care or research. The inability to self-advocate exacerbates preexisting socioeconomic and geographic disparities, which include the wide variability observed across individuals, hospitals, and countries in access to acute care, expertise, and sophisticated diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic interventions. Concerns about equity for people with DoC are particularly notable when they lack a surrogate decision-maker (legally referred to as "unrepresented" or "unbefriended"). Decisions about both short-term and long-term life-sustaining treatment typically rely on neuroprognostication and individual patient preferences that carry additional ethical considerations for people with DoC, as even individuals with well thought out advance directives cannot anticipate every possible situation to guide such decisions. Further challenges exist with the inclusion of people with DoC in research because consent must be completed (in most circumstances) through a surrogate, which excludes those who are unrepresented and may discourage investigators from exploring questions related to this population. In this article, the Curing Coma Campaign Ethics Working Group reviews equity considerations in clinical care and research involving persons with DoC in the following domains: (1) access to acute care and expertise, (2) access to diagnostics and therapeutics, (3) neuroprognostication, (4) medical decision-making for unrepresented people, (5) end-of-life decision-making, (6) access to postacute rehabilitative care, (7) access to research, (8) inclusion of unrepresented people in research, and (9) remuneration and reciprocity for research participation. The goal of this discussion is to advance equitable, harmonized, guideline-directed, and goal-concordant care for people with DoC of all backgrounds worldwide, prioritizing the ethical standards of respect for autonomy, beneficence, and justice. Although the focus of this evaluation is on people with DoC, much of the discussion can be extrapolated to other critically ill persons worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Rubin
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gentle S Shrestha
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Quinn Boyle
- Neuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Judy Illes
- Neuroethics Canada, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ralf J Jox
- Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Michael J Young
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Neurocritical Care, Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA.
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Edlow BL, Menon DK. Covert Consciousness in the ICU. Crit Care Med 2024; 52:1414-1426. [PMID: 39145701 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000006372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES For critically ill patients with acute severe brain injuries, consciousness may reemerge before behavioral responsiveness. The phenomenon of covert consciousness (i.e., cognitive motor dissociation) may be detected by advanced neurotechnologies such as task-based functional MRI (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) in patients who appear unresponsive on the bedside behavioral examination. In this narrative review, we summarize the state-of-the-science in ICU detection of covert consciousness. Further, we consider the prognostic and therapeutic implications of diagnosing covert consciousness in the ICU, as well as its potential to inform discussions about continuation of life-sustaining therapy for patients with severe brain injuries. DATA SOURCES We reviewed salient medical literature regarding covert consciousness. STUDY SELECTION We included clinical studies investigating the diagnostic performance characteristics and prognostic utility of advanced neurotechnologies such as task-based fMRI and EEG. We focus on clinical guidelines, professional society scientific statements, and neuroethical analyses pertaining to the implementation of advanced neurotechnologies in the ICU to detect covert consciousness. DATA EXTRACTION AND DATA SYNTHESIS We extracted study results, guideline recommendations, and society scientific statement recommendations regarding the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic relevance of covert consciousness to the clinical care of ICU patients with severe brain injuries. CONCLUSIONS Emerging evidence indicates that covert consciousness is present in approximately 15-20% of ICU patients who appear unresponsive on behavioral examination. Covert consciousness may be detected in patients with traumatic and nontraumatic brain injuries, including patients whose behavioral examination suggests a comatose state. The presence of covert consciousness in the ICU may predict the pace and extent of long-term functional recovery. Professional society guidelines now recommend assessment of covert consciousness using task-based fMRI and EEG. However, the clinical criteria for patient selection for such investigations are uncertain and global access to advanced neurotechnologies is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - David K Menon
- University Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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3
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White AJ, Kelly-Hedrick M, Miranda SP, Abdelbarr MM, Lázaro-Muñoz G, Pouratian N, Shen F, Nahed BV, Williamson T. Bioethics and Neurosurgery: An Overview of Existing and Emerging Topics for the Practicing Neurosurgeon. World Neurosurg 2024; 190:181-186. [PMID: 39004179 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2024.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Neurosurgery is a field with complex ethical issues. In this article, we aim to provide an overview of key and emerging ethical issues in neurosurgery with a focus on issues relevant to practicing neurosurgeons. These issues include those of informed consent, capacity, clinical trials, emerging neurotechnology, innovation, equity and justice, and emerging bioethics areas including community engagement and organizational ethics. We argue that bioethics can help neurosurgeons think about and address these issues, and, in turn, the field of bioethics can benefit from engagement by neurosurgeons. Several ideas for increasing engagement in bioethics are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J White
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Margot Kelly-Hedrick
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
| | - Stephen P Miranda
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | | | - Nader Pouratian
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Francis Shen
- Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brian V Nahed
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Theresa Williamson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Young MJ, Kazazian K, Fischer D, Lissak IA, Bodien YG, Edlow BL. Disclosing Results of Tests for Covert Consciousness: A Framework for Ethical Translation. Neurocrit Care 2024; 40:865-878. [PMID: 38243150 PMCID: PMC11147696 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01899-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The advent of neurotechnologies including advanced functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography to detect states of awareness not detectable by traditional bedside neurobehavioral techniques (i.e., covert consciousness) promises to transform neuroscience research and clinical practice for patients with brain injury. As these interventions progress from research tools into actionable, guideline-endorsed clinical tests, ethical guidance for clinicians on how to responsibly communicate the sensitive results they yield is crucial yet remains underdeveloped. Drawing on insights from empirical and theoretical neuroethics research and our clinical experience with advanced neurotechnologies to detect consciousness in behaviorally unresponsive patients, we critically evaluate ethical promises and perils associated with disclosing the results of clinical covert consciousness assessments and describe a semistructured approach to responsible data sharing to mitigate potential risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Young
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Karnig Kazazian
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Western Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - David Fischer
- University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - India A Lissak
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Yelena G Bodien
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
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Young MJ, Awad A, Andreev A, Bonkhoff AK, Schirmer MD, Dmytriw AA, Vranic JE, Rabinov JD, Doron O, Stapleton CJ, Das AS, Edlow BL, Singhal AB, Rost NS, Patel AB, Regenhardt RW. Characterizing coma in large vessel occlusion stroke. J Neurol 2024; 271:2658-2661. [PMID: 38366071 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12199-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coma is an unresponsive state of disordered consciousness characterized by impaired arousal and awareness. The epidemiology and pathophysiology of coma in ischemic stroke has been underexplored. We sought to characterize the incidence and clinical features of coma as a presentation of large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. METHODS Individuals who presented with LVO were retrospectively identified from July 2018 to December 2020. Coma was defined as an unresponsive state of impaired arousal and awareness, operationalized as a score of 3 on NIHSS item 1a. RESULTS 28/637 (4.4%) patients with LVO stroke were identified as presenting with coma. The median NIHSS was 32 (IQR 29-34) for those with coma versus 11 (5-18) for those without (p < 0.0001). In coma, occlusion locations included basilar (13), vertebral (2), internal carotid (5), and middle cerebral (9) arteries. 8/28 were treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), and 20/28 died during the admission. 65% of patients not treated with EVT had delayed presentations or large established infarcts. In models accounting for pre-stroke mRS, basilar occlusion location, intravenous thrombolysis, and EVT, coma independently increased the odds of transitioning to comfort care during admission (aOR 6.75; 95% CI 2.87,15.84; p < 0.001) and decreased the odds of 90-day mRS 0-2 (aOR 0.12; 95% CI 0.03,0.55; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS It is not uncommon for patients with LVO to present with coma, and delayed recognition of LVO can lead to poor outcomes, emphasizing the need for maintaining a high index of suspicion. While more commonly thought to result from posterior LVO, coma in our cohort was similarly likely to result from anterior LVO. Efforts to improve early diagnosis and care of patients with LVO presenting with coma are crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Young
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Amine Awad
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Alexander Andreev
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna K Bonkhoff
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Markus D Schirmer
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Adam A Dmytriw
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Justin E Vranic
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - James D Rabinov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Omer Doron
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Christopher J Stapleton
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Alvin S Das
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Aneesh B Singhal
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Natalia S Rost
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Aman B Patel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Robert W Regenhardt
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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Young MJ, Fecchio M, Bodien YG, Edlow BL. Covert cortical processing: a diagnosis in search of a definition. Neurosci Conscious 2024; 2024:niad026. [PMID: 38327828 PMCID: PMC10849751 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niad026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Historically, clinical evaluation of unresponsive patients following brain injury has relied principally on serial behavioral examination to search for emerging signs of consciousness and track recovery. Advances in neuroimaging and electrophysiologic techniques now enable clinicians to peer into residual brain functions even in the absence of overt behavioral signs. These advances have expanded clinicians' ability to sub-stratify behaviorally unresponsive and seemingly unaware patients following brain injury by querying and classifying covert brain activity made evident through active or passive neuroimaging or electrophysiologic techniques, including functional MRI, electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation-EEG, and positron emission tomography. Clinical research has thus reciprocally influenced clinical practice, giving rise to new diagnostic categories including cognitive-motor dissociation (i.e. 'covert consciousness') and covert cortical processing (CCP). While covert consciousness has received extensive attention and study, CCP is relatively less understood. We describe that CCP is an emerging and clinically relevant state of consciousness marked by the presence of intact association cortex responses to environmental stimuli in the absence of behavioral evidence of stimulus processing. CCP is not a monotonic state but rather encapsulates a spectrum of possible association cortex responses from rudimentary to complex and to a range of possible stimuli. In constructing a roadmap for this evolving field, we emphasize that efforts to inform clinicians, philosophers, and researchers of this condition are crucial. Along with strategies to sensitize diagnostic criteria and disorders of consciousness nosology to these vital discoveries, democratizing access to the resources necessary for clinical identification of CCP is an emerging clinical and ethical imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Young
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Matteo Fecchio
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Yelena G Bodien
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 1st Ave, Charlestown, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 13th St, Charlestown, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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7
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Harris KA, Zhou Y, Jou S, Greenwald BD. Disorders of Consciousness Programs: Components, Organization, and Implementation. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2024; 35:65-77. [PMID: 37993194 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Rehabilitation of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) presents unique challenges requiring comprehensive and specialized care. This article reviews the components, organization, and implementation of an inpatient DoC program under the framework of recent evidence-based practice guidelines and minimum competency recommendations. The evidence and clinical applications of these recommendations are elaborated upon with the goal of offering providers a reference to translate guidelines into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen A Harris
- JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute/Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08820, USA.
| | - Yi Zhou
- JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute/Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08820, USA
| | - Stacey Jou
- JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute/Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08820, USA
| | - Brian D Greenwald
- JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute/Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 65 James Street, Edison, NJ 08820, USA
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Young MJ. Disorders of Consciousness Rehabilitation: Ethical Dimensions and Epistemic Dilemmas. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2024; 35:209-221. [PMID: 37993190 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2023.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Patients with disorders of consciousness who survive to discharge following severe acute brain injury may face profoundly complex medical, ethical, and psychosocial challenges during their courses of recovery and rehabilitation. Although issues encountered in caring for such patients during acute hospitalization have received substantial attention, ethical challenges that may arise in subacute and chronic phases have been underexplored. Shedding light on these issues, this article explores the landscape of normative issues in the course of treating and facilitating access to care for persons with disorders of consciousness during rehabilitation and examines potential implications for patients, clinicians, family members, and society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Young
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, 101 Merrimac Street, Suite 310, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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9
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Abstract
Covert consciousness is a state of residual awareness following severe brain injury or neurological disorder that evades routine bedside behavioral detection. Patients with covert consciousness have preserved awareness but are incapable of self-expression through ordinary means of behavior or communication. Growing recognition of the limitations of bedside neurobehavioral examination in reliably detecting consciousness, along with advances in neurotechnologies capable of detecting brain states or subtle signs indicative of consciousness not discernible by routine examination, carry promise to transform approaches to classifying, diagnosing, prognosticating and treating disorders of consciousness. Here we describe and critically evaluate the evolving clinical category of covert consciousness, including approaches to its diagnosis through neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and novel behavioral tools, its prognostic relevance, and open questions pertaining to optimal clinical management of patients with covert consciousness recovering from severe brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Young
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian L. Edlow
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Yelena G. Bodien
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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10
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Farisco M, Formisano R, Gosseries O, Kato Y, Koboyashi S, Laureys S, Lejeune N, Martial C, Matar A, Morrisey AM, Schnakers C, Yakufujiang M, Yamaki T, Veeramuthu V, Zandalasini M, Zasler N, Magliacano A, Estraneo A. International survey on the implementation of the European and American guidelines on disorders of consciousness. J Neurol 2024; 271:395-407. [PMID: 37740739 PMCID: PMC10770208 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11956-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic procedures for patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (pDoCs) vary significantly across countries and clinical settings, likely due to organizational factors (e.g., research vs. non-academic hospitals), expertise and availability of resources (e.g., financial and human). Two international guidelines, one from the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and one from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in collaboration with the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), were developed to facilitate consistent practice among professionals working with this challenging patient population. While the recommendations of both guidelines agree in principle, it remains an open issue how to implement them into clinical practice in the care pathway for patients with pDoCs. We conducted an online survey to explore health professional clinical practices related to the management of patients with pDoCs, and compare said practices with selected recommendations from both the guidelines. The survey revealed that while some recommendations are being followed, others are not and/or may require more honing/specificity to enhance their clinical utility. Particular attention should be given to the implementation of a multimodal assessment of residual consciousness, to the detection and treatment of pain, and to the impact of restrictions imposed by COVID-19 pandemics on the involvement of patients' families/representatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Farisco
- Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Biogem, Biology and Molecular Genetics Research Institute, Ariano Irpino, AV, Italy.
| | | | - Olivia Gosseries
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Yoko Kato
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fujita Health University Bantane Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shigeki Koboyashi
- Division of Neurosurgery, Rehabilitation Center for Traumatic Apallics Chiba, National Agency for Automotive Safety and Victims' Aid, 3-30-1 Isobe, Mihamaku, Chibashi, Chiba, 261-0012, Japan
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- CERVO Brain Research Center, University of Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Nicolas Lejeune
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- CHN William Lennox, Ottignies-Louvain-La Neuve, Belgium
- Institute of NeuroScienceUCLouvain, Ottignies-Louvain-La Neuve, Belgium
| | - Charlotte Martial
- Coma Science Group, GIGA-Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Amal Matar
- Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ann-Marie Morrisey
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences, Ageing Research Centre, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Caroline Schnakers
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA, USA
| | - Maidinamu Yakufujiang
- Division of Neurosurgery, Rehabilitation Center for Traumatic Apallics Chiba, National Agency for Automotive Safety and Victims' Aid, 3-30-1 Isobe, Mihamaku, Chibashi, Chiba, 261-0012, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Yamaki
- Division of Neurosurgery, Rehabilitation Center for Traumatic Apallics Chiba, National Agency for Automotive Safety and Victims' Aid, 3-30-1 Isobe, Mihamaku, Chibashi, Chiba, 261-0012, Japan
| | | | - Matteo Zandalasini
- Unità Spinale, Neuroriabilitazione E Medicina Riabilitativa Intensiva, Dipartimento Di Medicina Riabilitativa, Azienda USL Di Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Nathan Zasler
- Concussion Care Centre of Virginia, LTD, Henrico, VA, 23233, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Alfonso Magliacano
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Florence and Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, AV, Italy
| | - Anna Estraneo
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Florence and Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi, AV, Italy
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11
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Edlow BL, Boerwinkle VL, Annen J, Boly M, Gosseries O, Laureys S, Mukherjee P, Puybasset L, Stevens RD, Threlkeld ZD, Newcombe VFJ, Fernandez-Espejo D. Common Data Elements for Disorders of Consciousness: Recommendations from the Working Group on Neuroimaging. Neurocrit Care 2023; 39:611-617. [PMID: 37552410 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01794-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past 5 decades, advances in neuroimaging have yielded insights into the pathophysiologic mechanisms that cause disorders of consciousness (DoC) in patients with severe brain injuries. Structural, functional, metabolic, and perfusion imaging studies have revealed specific neuroanatomic regions, such as the brainstem tegmentum, thalamus, posterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, and occipital cortex, where lesions correlate with the current or future state of consciousness. Advanced imaging modalities, such as diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and task-based fMRI, have been used to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and long-term prognosis, culminating in the endorsement of fMRI for the clinical evaluation of patients with DoC in the 2018 US (task-based fMRI) and 2020 European (task-based and resting-state fMRI) guidelines. As diverse neuroimaging techniques are increasingly used for patients with DoC in research and clinical settings, the need for a standardized approach to reporting results is clear. The success of future multicenter collaborations and international trials fundamentally depends on the implementation of a shared nomenclature and infrastructure. METHODS To address this need, the Neurocritical Care Society's Curing Coma Campaign convened an international panel of DoC neuroimaging experts to propose common data elements (CDEs) for data collection and reporting in this field. RESULTS We report the recommendations of this CDE development panel and disseminate CDEs to be used in neuroimaging studies of patients with DoC. CONCLUSIONS These CDEs will support progress in the field of DoC neuroimaging and facilitate international collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - Varina L Boerwinkle
- Clinical Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Laboratory and Service, Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jitka Annen
- Coma Science Group, GIGA Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Centre de Cerveau2, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Melanie Boly
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Wisconsin Institute for Sleep and Consciousness, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Olivia Gosseries
- Coma Science Group, GIGA Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Centre de Cerveau2, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Steven Laureys
- Coma Science Group, GIGA Consciousness, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Centre de Cerveau2, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- CERVO Research Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
| | - Pratik Mukherjee
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Louis Puybasset
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Robert D Stevens
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Neurology, Radiology, and Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zachary D Threlkeld
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Davinia Fernandez-Espejo
- School of Psychology and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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12
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Burns JD, Edlow BL. You Can't Heal What You Never Reveal: Searching for Consciousness in Chronic Care Facilities. Neurology 2023; 101:871-872. [PMID: 37857490 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000208022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D Burns
- From the Section of Neurocritical Care (J.D.B.), Division of Neurology, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington; Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery (J.D.B.), Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston; Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery (B.L.E.), Department of Neurology, and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (B.L.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown; and Harvard Medical School (B.L.E.), Boston, MA.
| | - Brian L Edlow
- From the Section of Neurocritical Care (J.D.B.), Division of Neurology, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington; Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery (J.D.B.), Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston; Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery (B.L.E.), Department of Neurology, and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging (B.L.E.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown; and Harvard Medical School (B.L.E.), Boston, MA
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13
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Lissak IA, Edlow BL, Rosenthal E, Young MJ. Ethical Considerations in Neuroprognostication Following Acute Brain Injury. Semin Neurol 2023; 43:758-767. [PMID: 37802121 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1775597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuroprognostication following acute brain injury (ABI) is a complex process that involves integrating vast amounts of information to predict a patient's likely trajectory of neurologic recovery. In this setting, critically evaluating salient ethical questions is imperative, and the implications often inform high-stakes conversations about the continuation, limitation, or withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy. While neuroprognostication is central to these clinical "life-or-death" decisions, the ethical underpinnings of neuroprognostication itself have been underexplored for patients with ABI. In this article, we discuss the ethical challenges of individualized neuroprognostication including parsing and communicating its inherent uncertainty to surrogate decision-makers. We also explore the population-based ethical considerations that arise in the context of heterogenous prognostication practices. Finally, we examine the emergence of artificial intelligence-aided neuroprognostication, proposing an ethical framework relevant to both modern and longstanding prognostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- India A Lissak
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Eric Rosenthal
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael J Young
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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14
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Young MJ, Bodien YG, Freeman HJ, Fecchio M, Edlow BL. Toward Uniform Insurer Coverage for Functional MRI Following Severe Brain Injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2023; 38:351-357. [PMID: 36854104 PMCID: PMC10329974 DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) now promises to improve diagnostic and prognostic accuracy for patients with disorders of consciousness, and accordingly has been endorsed by professional society guidelines, including those of the American Academy of Neurology, American College of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, and the European Academy of Neurology. Despite multiple professional society endorsements of fMRI in evaluating patients with disorders of consciousness following severe brain injury, insurers have yet to issue clear guidance regarding coverage of fMRI for this indication. Lack of insurer coverage may be a rate-limiting barrier to accessing this technique, which could uncover essential diagnostic and prognostic information for patients and their families. The emerging clinical and ethical case for harmonized insurer recognition and reimbursement of fMRI for vulnerable persons following severe brain injury with disorders of consciousness is explained and critically evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Young
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston
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15
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Edlow BL, Fecchio M, Bodien YG, Comanducci A, Rosanova M, Casarotto S, Young MJ, Li J, Dougherty DD, Koch C, Tononi G, Massimini M, Boly M. Measuring Consciousness in the Intensive Care Unit. Neurocrit Care 2023; 38:584-590. [PMID: 37029315 PMCID: PMC11421303 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01706-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Early reemergence of consciousness predicts long-term functional recovery for patients with severe brain injury. However, tools to reliably detect consciousness in the intensive care unit are lacking. Transcranial magnetic stimulation electroencephalography has the potential to detect consciousness in the intensive care unit, predict recovery, and prevent premature withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
| | - Matteo Fecchio
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yelena G Bodien
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Angela Comanducci
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy
- Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Rosanova
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Casarotto
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Michael J Young
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jian Li
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Darin D Dougherty
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christof Koch
- MindScope Program, Allen Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Giulio Tononi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Marcello Massimini
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Melanie Boly
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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16
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Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA. Patients with Disorders of Consciousness: Are They Nonconscious, Unconscious, or Subconscious? Expanding the Discussion. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050814. [PMID: 37239286 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Unprecedented advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) have given rise to ethical questions about how to recognize and respect autonomy and a sense of agency of the personhood when those capacities are themselves disordered, as they typically are in patients with DoC. At the intersection of these questions rests the distinction between consciousness and unconsciousness. Indeed, evaluations of consciousness levels and capacity for recovery have a significant impact on decisions regarding whether to discontinue or prolong life-sustaining therapy for DoC patients. However, in the unconsciousness domain, there is the confusing array of terms that are regularly used interchangeably, making it quite challenging to comprehend what unconsciousness is and how it might be empirically grounded. In this opinion paper, we will provide a brief overview of the state of the field of unconsciousness and show how a rapidly evolving electroencephalogram (EEG) neuroimaging technique may offer empirical, theoretical, and practical tools to approach unconsciousness and to improve our ability to distinguish consciousness from unconsciousness and also nonconsciousness with greater precision, particularly in cases that are borderline (as is typical in patients with DoC). Furthermore, we will provide a clear description of three distant notions of (un)consciousness (unconsciousness, nonconsciousness, and subconsciousness) and discuss how they relate to the experiential selfhood which is essential for comprehending the moral significance of what makes life worth living.
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17
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Pecanac KE, Massey SM, Repins LR. How Patients and Families Describe Major Medical Treatments: "They are No Longer Living, Just Existing". Am J Crit Care 2022; 31:461-468. [PMID: 36316174 DOI: 10.4037/ajcc2022705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As more life-sustaining treatments become available, the need to provide patients and families clarity about what these treatments are and what they do is increasing. Little is known about how patients and families conceptualize life support. OBJECTIVE To explore the discourse that patients and families used to describe major medical treatments in their accounts of treatment decision-making. METHODS This study is a secondary data analysis of a survey sent to random addresses in Wisconsin regarding experiences with major medical treatment decision-making. This analysis includes the subsample of 366 respondents who specified the type of decision made in the survey's open-ended questions. Inductive content analysis was used to qualitatively analyze the responses to the open-ended questions, with particular attention to how respondents described the treatment in their responses. RESULTS Respondents' descriptions showed a conceptualization of engaging in major medical treatments as keeping patients alive, whereas discontinuing or choosing not to engage in such treatments would bring about the patient's death. However, respondents recognized the potential adverse consequences of engaging in major medical treatments, such as their capacity to cause pain or result in an undesirable neurologic state. Additionally, respondents described the limitations of such treatment regarding the uncertainty of the treatments providing the desired outcome or their uselessness in situations in which the patient's death would be inevitable. CONCLUSION Understanding how patients and families make sense of major medical treatments can help clinicians during decision-making conversations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E Pecanac
- Kristen E. Pecanac is an assistant professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing, Madison
| | - Shereen M Massey
- Shereen M. Massey is a registered nurse, Advocate Aurora St Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Lindsey R Repins
- Lindsey R. Repins is a nursing student, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing, Madison
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18
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The clinical and ethical challenges of treating comatose patients following severe brain injury. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2022; 165:829-831. [PMID: 36194290 DOI: 10.1007/s00701-022-05376-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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19
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Schnakers C, Bauer C, Formisano R, Noé E, Llorens R, Lejeune N, Farisco M, Teixeira L, Morrissey AM, De Marco S, Veeramuthu V, Ilina K, Edlow BL, Gosseries O, Zandalasini M, De Bellis F, Thibaut A, Estraneo A. What names for covert awareness? A systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:971315. [PMID: 35992948 PMCID: PMC9389234 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.971315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With the emergence of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI), clinicians have been facing a new group of patients with severe acquired brain injury who are unable to show any behavioral sign of consciousness but respond to active neuroimaging or electrophysiological paradigms. However, even though well documented, there is still no consensus regarding the nomenclature for this clinical entity. Objectives This systematic review aims to 1) identify the terms used to indicate the presence of this entity through the years, and 2) promote an informed discussion regarding the rationale for these names and the best candidates to name this fascinating disorder. Methods The Disorders of Consciousness Special Interest Group (DoC SIG) of the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) launched a search on Pubmed and Google scholar following PRISMA guidelines to collect peer-reviewed articles and reviews on human adults (>18 years) published in English between 2006 and 2021. Results The search launched in January 2021 identified 4,089 potentially relevant titles. After screening, 1,126 abstracts were found relevant. Finally, 161 manuscripts were included in our analyses. Only 58% of the manuscripts used a specific name to discuss this clinical entity, among which 32% used several names interchangeably throughout the text. We found 25 different names given to this entity. The five following names were the ones the most frequently used: covert awareness, cognitive motor dissociation, functional locked-in, non-behavioral MCS (MCS*) and higher-order cortex motor dissociation. Conclusion Since 2006, there has been no agreement regarding the taxonomy to use for unresponsive patients who are able to respond to active neuroimaging or electrophysiological paradigms. Developing a standard taxonomy is an important goal for future research studies and clinical translation. We recommend a Delphi study in order to build such a consensus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Schnakers
- Research Institute, Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Caroline Schnakers
| | - Chase Bauer
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
| | | | - Enrique Noé
- Vithas Neuro Rehab Human Brain, Fundación Hospitales Vithas, Valencia, Spain
| | - Roberto Llorens
- Vithas Neuro Rehab Human Brain, Fundación Hospitales Vithas, Valencia, Spain
- Neurorehabilitation and Brain Research Group, Instituto de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nicolas Lejeune
- Centre Hospitalier Neurologique William Lennox, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- GIGA-Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
| | - Michele Farisco
- Centre for Research Ethics and Bioethics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Science and Society Unit, Biogem, Biology and Molecular Genetics Research Institute, Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | - Liliana Teixeira
- Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology, School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
| | - Ann-Marie Morrissey
- Ageing Research Centre, School of Allied Health, Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Sabrina De Marco
- Clínica Universitaria Reina Fabiola, Universidad Católica de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Kseniya Ilina
- Research Center of Neurology, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Fundamental Medicine, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Brian L. Edlow
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Olivia Gosseries
- GIGA-Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, University Hospital of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Matteo Zandalasini
- Unità Spinale, Neuroriabilitazione e Medicina Riabilitativa Intensiva, Dipartimento di Medicina Riabilitativa, Azienda USL di Piacenza, Piacenza, Italy
| | | | - Aurore Thibaut
- GIGA-Consciousness, Coma Science Group, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
- Centre du Cerveau, University Hospital of Liege, Liege, Belgium
| | - Anna Estraneo
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
- Neurology Unit, SM della Pietà General Hospital, Nola, Italy
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20
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Pan J, Xiao J, Wang J, Wang F, Li J, Qiu L, Di H, Li Y. Brain-Computer Interfaces for Awareness Detection, Auxiliary Diagnosis, Prognosis and Rehabilitation in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness. Semin Neurol 2022; 42:363-374. [PMID: 35835448 DOI: 10.1055/a-1900-7261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Pan
- Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou, China.,South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Xiao
- Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou, China.,South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou, China.,South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingcong Li
- Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou, China.,South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina Qiu
- South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haibo Di
- Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuanqing Li
- Pazhou Lab, Guangzhou, China.,South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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21
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Curley WH, Bodien YG, Zhou DW, Conte MM, Foulkes AS, Giacino JT, Victor JD, Schiff ND, Edlow BL. Electrophysiological correlates of thalamocortical function in acute severe traumatic brain injury. Cortex 2022; 152:136-152. [PMID: 35569326 PMCID: PMC9759728 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Tools assaying the neural networks that modulate consciousness may facilitate tracking of recovery after acute severe brain injury. The ABCD framework classifies resting-state EEG into categories reflecting levels of thalamocortical network function that correlate with outcome in post-cardiac arrest coma. In this longitudinal cohort study, we applied the ABCD framework to 20 patients with acute severe traumatic brain injury requiring intensive care (12 of whom were also studied at ≥6-months post-injury) and 16 healthy controls. We tested four hypotheses: 1) EEG ABCD classifications are spatially heterogeneous and temporally variable; 2) ABCD classifications improve longitudinally, commensurate with the degree of behavioral recovery; 3) ABCD classifications correlate with behavioral level of consciousness; and 4) the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised arousal facilitation protocol yields improved ABCD classifications. Channel-level EEG power spectra were classified based on spectral peaks within pre-defined frequency bands: 'A' = no peaks above delta (<4 Hz) range (complete thalamocortical disruption); 'B' = theta (4-8 Hz) peak (severe thalamocortical disruption); 'C' = theta and beta (13-24 Hz) peaks (moderate thalamocortical disruption); or 'D' = alpha (8-13 Hz) and beta peaks (normal thalamocortical function). Acutely, 95% of patients demonstrated 'D' signals in at least one channel but exhibited within-session temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity in the proportion of different channel-level ABCD classifications. By contrast, healthy participants and patients at follow-up consistently demonstrated signals corresponding to intact thalamocortical network function. Patients demonstrated longitudinal improvement in ABCD classifications (p < .05) and ABCD classification distinguished patients with and without command-following in the subacute-to-chronic phase of recovery (p < .01). In patients studied acutely, ABCD classifications improved after the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised arousal facilitation protocol (p < .05) but did not correspond with behavioral level of consciousness. These findings support the use of the ABCD framework to characterize channel-level EEG dynamics and track fluctuations in functional thalamocortical network integrity in spatial detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Curley
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yelena G Bodien
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - David W Zhou
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mary M Conte
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea S Foulkes
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph T Giacino
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan D Victor
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas D Schiff
- Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neurology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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22
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Young M, Peterson AH. Neuroethics across the Disorders of Consciousness Care Continuum. Semin Neurol 2022; 42:375-392. [PMID: 35738293 DOI: 10.1055/a-1883-0701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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23
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Kondziella D, Stevens RD. Classifying Disorders of Consciousness: Past, Present, and Future. Semin Neurol 2022; 42:239-248. [PMID: 35738291 DOI: 10.1055/a-1883-1021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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24
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Peterson A, Young MJ, Fins JJ. Ethics and the 2018 Practice Guideline on Disorders of Consciousness: A Framework for Responsible Implementation. Neurology 2022; 98:712-718. [PMID: 35277446 PMCID: PMC9071367 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2018 practice guideline on disorders of consciousness marks an important turning point in the care of patients with severe brain injury. As clinicians and health systems implement the guideline in practice, several ethical challenges will arise in assessing the benefits, harms, feasibility, and cost of recommended interventions. We provide guidance for clinicians when interpreting these recommendations and call on professional societies to develop an ethical framework to complement the guideline as it is implemented in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Peterson
- From the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy (A.P.), George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; Penn Program on Precision Medicine for the Brain (A.P.), University of Pennsylvania, PA; Department of Neurology and Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics (M.J.Y.), Harvard University, Boston, MA; Division of Medical Ethics (J.J.F.), Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY; and Solomon Center for Health Law & Policy (J.J.F.), Yale Law School, New Haven, CT
| | - Michael J Young
- From the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy (A.P.), George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; Penn Program on Precision Medicine for the Brain (A.P.), University of Pennsylvania, PA; Department of Neurology and Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics (M.J.Y.), Harvard University, Boston, MA; Division of Medical Ethics (J.J.F.), Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY; and Solomon Center for Health Law & Policy (J.J.F.), Yale Law School, New Haven, CT
| | - Joseph J Fins
- From the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy (A.P.), George Mason University, Fairfax, VA; Penn Program on Precision Medicine for the Brain (A.P.), University of Pennsylvania, PA; Department of Neurology and Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics (M.J.Y.), Harvard University, Boston, MA; Division of Medical Ethics (J.J.F.), Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY; and Solomon Center for Health Law & Policy (J.J.F.), Yale Law School, New Haven, CT
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25
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Monti MM, Schnakers C. Flowchart for Implementing Advanced Imaging and Electrophysiology in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness: To fMRI or Not to fMRI? Neurology 2022; 98:452-459. [PMID: 35058337 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000200038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The American Academy of Neurology and the European Academy of Neurology have recognized, for the first time, the value of advanced neuroimaging and electrophysiology techniques (AIEs) in the context of diagnosing patients with a disorder of consciousness (DOC). This recognition is part of an important agenda of promoting evidence-based competency in the management of patients with DOC. Nonetheless, considering that these techniques (and the required knowledge) are seldom available outside of advanced medical centers, it is important to provide physicians with a framework for balancing risks and benefits and deciding, on a single patient basis, whether AIEs are suitable. This issue is all the more urgent considering that family members are increasingly aware of the use of AIEs in patients with DOC, pressure for these assessments is likely to increase in the context of ethical and clinical imperatives to meet standards of care, and pathways for reimbursement for such assessments in DOC are yet to be established. The new guidelines, however, provide no guiding principle for physicians to decide when such assessments are appropriate, a limitation that impedes their wide adoption. We address this important gap by proposing an easy to use algorithmic flowchart that is based on the new guidelines and can be used to determine the appropriateness of AIEs for any given patient with DOC and ensure that evidence-based best practices are being followed. We also provide a brief context for understanding the main categories of AIEs available to clinicians, their advantages, and their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Max Monti
- From the Department of Psychology (M.M.M.) and Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Injury Research Center (C.S.), University of California Los Angeles; and Research Institute (C.S.), Casa Colina Hospitals and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA.
| | - Caroline Schnakers
- From the Department of Psychology (M.M.M.) and Department of Neurosurgery, Brain Injury Research Center (C.S.), University of California Los Angeles; and Research Institute (C.S.), Casa Colina Hospitals and Centers for Healthcare, Pomona, CA
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Young MJ, Bodien YG, Edlow BL. Ethical Considerations in Clinical Trials for Disorders of Consciousness. Brain Sci 2022; 12:211. [PMID: 35203974 PMCID: PMC8870384 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12020211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As the clinical trial landscape for patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) expands, consideration of associated ethical challenges and opportunities is of ever-increasing importance. Responsible conduct of research in the vulnerable population of persons with DoC, including those with coma, vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (VS/UWS), minimally conscious state (MCS), covert cortical processing (CCP), and cognitive motor dissociation (CMD), demands proactive deliberation of unique ethical issues that may arise and the adoption of robust protections to safeguard patients, surrogates, and other key stakeholders. Here we identify and critically evaluate four central categories of ethical considerations in clinical trials involving participants with DoC: (1) autonomy, respect for persons and informed consent of individuals with liminal consciousness; (2) balancing unknown benefits and risks, especially considering the epistemological gap between behavior and consciousness that complicates ordinary ascription of subjective states; (3) disclosure to surrogates and clinical teams of investigational results pertaining to consciousness; and (4) justice considerations, including equitable access to clinical trial enrollment across communities and geographies. We outline guiding principles and research opportunities for clinicians, neuroethicists, and researchers engaged in DoC clinical trials to advance ethical study design and deployment in this complex yet crucial area of investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Young
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (Y.G.B.); (B.L.E.)
| | - Yelena G. Bodien
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (Y.G.B.); (B.L.E.)
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02114, USA
| | - Brian L. Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (Y.G.B.); (B.L.E.)
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02114, USA
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Abstract
The accelerating integration of telehealth technologies in neurology practice has transformed traditional interactions between neurologists and patients, allied clinicians and society. Despite the immense promise of these technologies to improve systems of neurological care, the infusion of telehealth technologies into neurology practice introduces a host of unique ethical challenges. Proactive consideration of the ethical dimensions of teleneurology and of the impact of these innovations on the field of neurology more generally can help to ensure responsible development and deployment across stages of implementation. Toward these ends, this article explores key ethical dimensions of teleneurology practice and policy, presents a normative framework for their consideration, and calls attention to underexplored questions ripe for further study at this evolving nexus of teleneurology and neuroethics. To promote successful and ethically resilient development of teleneurology across diverse contexts, clinicians, organizational leaders, and information technology specialists should work closely with neuroethicists with the common goal of identifying and rigorously assessing the trajectories and potential limits of teleneurology systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Young
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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28
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Young MJ, Bodien YG, Giacino JT, Fins JJ, Truog RD, Hochberg LR, Edlow BL. The neuroethics of disorders of consciousness: a brief history of evolving ideas. Brain 2021; 144:3291-3310. [PMID: 34347037 PMCID: PMC8883802 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroethical questions raised by recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of consciousness are rapidly expanding, increasingly relevant and yet underexplored. The aim of this thematic review is to provide a clinically applicable framework for understanding the current taxonomy of disorders of consciousness and to propose an approach to identifying and critically evaluating actionable neuroethical issues that are frequently encountered in research and clinical care for this vulnerable population. Increased awareness of these issues and clarity about opportunities for optimizing ethically responsible care in this domain are especially timely given recent surges in critically ill patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness associated with coronavirus disease 2019 around the world. We begin with an overview of the field of neuroethics: what it is, its history and evolution in the context of biomedical ethics at large. We then explore nomenclature used in disorders of consciousness, covering categories proposed by the American Academy of Neurology, the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, including definitions of terms such as coma, the vegetative state, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, minimally conscious state, covert consciousness and the confusional state. We discuss why these definitions matter, and why there has been such evolution in this nosology over the years, from Jennett and Plum in 1972 to the Multi-Society Task Force in 1994, the Aspen Working Group in 2002 and the 2018 American and 2020 European Disorders of Consciousness guidelines. We then move to a discussion of clinical aspects of disorders of consciousness, the natural history of recovery and ethical issues that arise within the context of caring for people with disorders of consciousness. We conclude with a discussion of key challenges associated with assessing residual consciousness in disorders of consciousness, potential solutions and future directions, including integration of crucial disability rights perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Young
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery,
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard
University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yelena G Bodien
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery,
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
02129, USA
| | - Joseph T Giacino
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
02129, USA
| | - Joseph J Fins
- Division of Medical Ethics, Weill Cornell Medical
College, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Yale Law School, New Haven,
Connecticut 06511, USA
| | - Robert D Truog
- Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Leigh R Hochberg
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery,
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- School of Engineering and Carney Institute for Brain
Science, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA
- VA RR&D Center for Neurorestoration and
Neurotechnology, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center,
Providence, RI 02908, USA
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery,
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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29
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Edlow BL. Early Rehabilitation for Patients with Disorders of Consciousness after Severe COVID-19. Neurocrit Care 2021; 36:341-343. [PMID: 34617252 PMCID: PMC8494457 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-021-01361-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Edlow
- Center for Neurotechnology and Neurorecovery, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 175 Cambridge Street - Suite 300, Boston, MA, USA. .,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA.
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30
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian L Edlow
- Massachusetts General Hospital.,Harvard Medical School
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