Subject Specific Integrated Multisensory Stimulation Program A Ray of Hope to Facilitate Arousal Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to test a newly developed subject specific integrated multisensory stimulation program (SSIMS) on arousal of patients in coma following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: Parallel group pilot randomized controlled trial. Patients: Twenty patients in coma following TBI from a tertiary care hospital with Glasgow coma scale score ≤8 and hemodynamically stable participated in the study. Interventions: Conventional coma stimulation was administered to control group and SSIMS to the experimental group participants. Measurement and Main Results: Baseline assessment was done using Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R) and Sensory Stimulation Assessment Measure by a blinded outcome assessor. Reassessment was done on 7th day and 14th day post initiation of treatment in both groups. Patients in the experimental group showed better improvement on 7th day (P = 0.04) and on 14th day (P = 0.009) of intervention on arousal measured by CRS-R scores. Conclusion: SSIMS is a safe and feasible protocol to improve arousal in comatose patients post TBI, which could be a better choice for coma stimulation in routine clinical setups.