COMA-GUIDELINES
SUMMARY
1. Use validated scales for serial behavioural assessments: Coma Recovery Scale: Revised (more commonly used, easy to use)
2. DOC requires specialist medical input to assess properly & manage
3. Assume awareness & individualize care
4. Evidence for amantidine 100-200 mg BD between 4-16 weeks to promote emergence
5. Encourage use of functional neuroimaging/EEG as adjuncts to behavioural assessment if available
6. Assign the highest level of DOC as revealed by clinical or adjunctive assessment
Reference(s)
1. American Academy of Neurology: 2018
2. Royal College of Physicians, UK: 2020 3. European Academy of Neurology: 2021
Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].
