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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
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Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
The Coma Exit Chart: assessing the patient in prolonged coma and the vegetative state
1National Brain Injury Foundation, Canberra, Australia.
Brain Injury
|August 1, 1996
Summary
Diagnosing prolonged coma and vegetative states is challenging. A Coma Exit Chart, utilizing Glasgow Coma Scale parameters, can help measure patient recovery from these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Medical Ethics
- Health Economics
Background:
- Prolonged coma and vegetative states pose significant challenges in medical management, ethical considerations, and resource allocation.
- Accurate diagnosis and timely decision-making are critical for patients with disorders of consciousness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel tool, the Coma Exit Chart, for assessing patient emergence from prolonged coma or vegetative states.
- To provide a standardized method for tracking recovery using established clinical parameters.
Main Methods:
- The proposed Coma Exit Chart is developed based on key parameters from the Glasgow Coma Scale.
- This chart facilitates the quantitative measurement of a patient's progression out of coma or vegetative states.
Main Results:
- The Coma Exit Chart offers a structured approach to monitor patient recovery.
- It aids clinicians in objectively evaluating the exit trajectory from prolonged unconsciousness.
Conclusions:
- The Coma Exit Chart provides a valuable instrument for the assessment and management of patients in prolonged coma or vegetative states.
- Utilizing the Glasgow Coma Scale parameters, this chart can improve diagnostic accuracy and inform clinical decision-making.
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