[From prolonged coma to awakening: a guided journey?].

Abstract

The interruption of human intercourse induced by extended coma is compounded by the deleterious effects of an artificially deprived or understandable anymore could be a traumatic experience in itself. As a result of the many years of work carried out in the Neuro-Surgical service, Orléans-La Source, it seems necessary, when speaking about "enriched surroundings" and "stimulations" for the comatose patient, to associate the notions of personalized care, reawakening of desire, and, by the early introduction of familiar landmarks, to gain access to emotional language. Among all possible means, human attendance seems the most pertinent and efficient route to generate this emotion, when it truly expresses the motives of the attendant. The latter, once his defensive reactions are surmounted, will find his reward in the always important call for global care, and his motivation may be renewed by what seems properly termed as a nascent human relation.