Biomedical subjects

M R Domínguez-Morales

Publications and source records attributed to M R Domínguez-Morales.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The locked-in syndrome: a challenge for therapy.

The locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a severe condition originated by a ventral pons lesion causing quadriplegia and anarthria but with a preserved consciousness. LIS seems to be a well defined clinical picture, although different problems still persist, such as the diagnosis as it is usually mistaken for akinetic mutism and a vegetative state; the unclear prognosis, because of the patient's psychological state and the lack of information and data concerning the different types of available treatment and the need for results. Rehabilitation is a challenge for physicians, new methods and techniques of specialized treatments for these patients are opening a new future that will allow us to abandon the initial pessimism. A more efficient rehabilitation of these patients depends on the intensity of the rehabilitation, the multidisciplinary approach, and duration of the treatment.

Cognition Disorders↗

PubMed1998

Executive functioning as outcome in patients after traumatic brain injury.

The present study was designed to determine how traumatic brain injury affect executive functioning, to know whether different treatments in the acute phase improve this functioning, and to check whether the severity of the neurocognitive impairment is detected by the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Ability for problem solving and executive functioning within 2 years after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) was examined in 35 conscious survivors. Two groups were formed. One group consisted of 13 patients who needed neurosurgery. The other group was made up of 22 patients without neurosurgical treatment. All were treated in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit and in the Rehabilitation Service. The following variables were registered: Secondary Lesions, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), CT, subacute CT, and Glasgow Outcome Scale. Neuropsychological tests administered were Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Tower of Hanoi/Sevilla. Comparing both groups' test performance (man Whitney U) we found that a severe traumatic brain injury, whatever the treatment applied in the acute phase, impairs the executive functioning of the patients; this impairment is related to acute pathophysiological events. The neurosurgical intervention does not improve the executive functioning. The Glasgow Outcome Scale does not detect more than 25% of the patients with severe impairment. It is suggested that the Tower of Hanoi/Sevilla could be a good tool to evaluate the executive functioning routinely in TBI patients as outcome. It also suggested that mild TBI patients must be referred for a complete neuropsychological examination.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Visual constructive deficits and coma depth].

The present study has the purpose of relating the capacities of visual retention with the Benton Visual Retention Test and the level of coma depth, which is measured with the GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale). 31 subject suffering cranioencephalic damage admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) have been studied. GCS scores were obtained during their stay in the intensive care unit and the Benton Visual Retention Test was administered after hospital discharge. The procedure followed consists in comparing the performance of subjects with higher GCS scores to subjects with lower values when executing administration. A of form C of BVRT. We could conclude as follows: firstly that BVRT is a useful tool to detect the existence of brain damage; secondly, indexes of brain damage presence with BVRT are: a low figure in correct design, more errors, less errors in distortion and rotation; more errors in the left visual hemifield. Thirdly, the depth of coma is a good prognosis index on BVRT execution and in consequence of visuo-constructive abilities.

Brain Injuries↗