Non-traumatic Coma Research Articles

Association between the red cell distribution width and mortality in elderly patients with non-traumatic coma: An observational cohort study.

Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) can be associated with disease severity. However, studies on RDW for the prognosis of elderly patients with non-traumatic coma (NTC) are lacking. This study aims to examine the relationship between RDW and outcomes in elderly patients with NTC. This observational cohort study included elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) with NTC between January 2022 and December 2022. We measured RDW upon patient arrival at the emergency department (ED). We conducted a multivariable analysis using logistic regression of relevant covariates to predict in-hospital mortality. Survival curves based on 30-day mortality were designed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary outcome was 30-day mortality. A total of 689 patients were included in the study, and in-hospital mortality was 29.6% (n = 204). Our results found that the RDWs of non-survivors were significantly greater than those of survivors (14.6% vs 13.6%). Multivariable analysis showed that RDWs at ED arrival were independently associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.126; 95% confidence interval, 1.047-1.212; P < .001). The Kaplan-Meier curve indicated that the survival probability of patients with a low RDW was greater than those with a high RDW. Having a high RDW at ED arrival was associated with in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with NTC.

Role of the National Early Warning score and Modified Early Warning score for predicting mortality in geriatric patients with non-traumatic coma

Geriatric patients arriving in a non-traumatic coma (NTC) at the emergency department (ED) present substantial risks and necessitate prompt and appropriate care. The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) is a promising tool that can efficiently evaluate this vulnerable population. Current study was designed to assess the effectiveness of the NEWS for predicting the severity of illness in geriatric patients with NTC and identifying those at highest risk. Current study was performed involving geriatric patients (aged ≥65 years) with NTC who visited Chonnam National University Hospital between January and December 2022. NEWS and Modified Early Warning Scores (MEWS) were calculated at ED visits. The association of NEWS and MEWS for in-hospital death was evaluated by multivariable analysis. Out of 683 patients, 202 were non-survivors (29.6%). The NEWS and MEWS values of non-survivors were higher than those of survivors (NEWS, 7 [5–10] vs. 10 [8–12]; MEWS, 5 [4–6] vs. 7 [5–8]). The NEWS (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]; 1.253, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.181–1.329) and MEWS (aOR; 1.323, 95% CI: 1.206–1.451) were also significantly associated with in-hospital death. The area under the curve for the NEWS and MEWS was 0.721 (95% CI: 0.685–0.754) and 0.695 (95% CI: 0.659–0.730), respectively. The NEWS can be an effective tool for predicting severity of illness via in-hospital death in geriatric patients with NTC.

A nomogram based on quantitative EEG to predict the prognosis of nontraumatic coma patients in the neuro-intensive care unit

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish a quantitative electroencephalography-based prognostic prediction model specifically tailored for nontraumatic coma patients to guide clinical work. MethodsThis retrospective study included 126 patients with nontraumatic coma admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from December 2020 to December 2022. Six in-hospital deaths were excluded. The Glasgow Outcome Scale assessed the prognosis at 3 months after discharge. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis and stepwise regression method were applied to select the most relevant predictors. We developed a predictive model using binary logistic regression and then presented it as a nomogram. We assessed the predictive effectiveness and clinical utility of the model. ResultsAfter excluding six deaths that occurred within the hospital, a total of 120 patients were included in this study. Three predictor variables were identified, including APACHE II score [39.129 (1.4244–1074.9000)], sleep cycle [OR: 0.006 (0.0002–0.1808)], and RAV [0.068 (0.0049–0.9500)]. The prognostic prediction model showed exceptional discriminative ability, with an AUC of 0.939 (95 % CI: 0.899–0.979). ConclusionA lack of sleep cycles, smaller relative alpha variants, and higher APACHE II scores were associated with a poor prognosis of nontraumatic coma patients in the neurointensive care unit at 3 months after discharge. Clinical implicationThis study presents a novel methodology for the prognostic assessment of nontraumatic coma patients and is anticipated to play a significant role in clinical practice.

Outcome of non-traumatic coma in adults: A 3-year review in a Cameroonian referral hospital

Outcome of non-traumatic coma in adults: A 3-year review in a Cameroonian referral hospital

October 2023 ICD-10-CM Updates for Pediatrics

Updates to International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) have been implemented for reporting with services provided on and after October 1, 2023. This update includes notable new and revised codes for reporting pediatric conditions, reasons for encounters, and social determinants of health that affect treatment or management. This article provides an overview of the following code changes that may be applicable in pediatric practice: Appendicitis with and without perforation Nontraumatic coma Foreign bodies entering into or through natural orifices Foreign body sensation Medical clearance for placement outside parental care Newborn observation related to home physiologic monitoring Encounter for HIV preexposure prophylaxis Social determinants of health

Non-Traumatic Coma in Children- A Review

Coma is defined as the unintentional failure of the patient to open their eyes spontaneously or in response to noise and inability to open for commands or localised painful stimuli with or without the ability to express comprehensible words or language response, whereas the Non traumatic coma is without any injury to the brain, and the Glasgow coma scale below 12. The Non traumatic coma causes due to the infections(tubercular meningitis, bacterial meningitis, encephalitis) and other metabolic conditions ,status epilepticus intracranial bleed, miscellaneous, hypoxic ischemic insults, Electrical shock, shunt dysfunction, Inborn error of metabolism. The monitoring parameters are Heart rate, Respiratory rate and pattern, Blood pressure, Temperature, coma severity using GCS, pupillary size, extra ocular movements, corneal reflex, posture, and motor pattern. The main symptoms are ataxia or weakness, isolated cranial nerve palsy, mild alteration of tone, poor pulse volume, apnea, abnormal pupillary size and reaction, dizziness, Headache, abnormal extra ocular movements absent corneal reflex. Management of non-traumatic coma patients at hospital includes Monitoring of Intracranial pressure, Maintenance of an adequate cerebral perfusion pressure, Management of persistent intracranial hypertension and Monitoring of Electroencephalographic Seizure activity. Infections are the most common cause for the non-traumatic coma in several cases. The pattern of infectious caused are CNS infections &gt; metabolic toxic exposure &gt; encephalitis &gt; Intoxication &gt; hypoxic ischemic insults &gt; Intracranial haemorrhages&gt;miscellaneous&gt;unknown cases. 40% of children are prone to Non traumatic coma per 10000 general population per year.

Etiologies and factors associated with mortality in patients with non-traumatic coma in a tertiary hospital in Bukavu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Non-traumatic coma (NTC) is a common medical condition often associated with poor outcomes. Identifying underlying causes is crucial for effective management and prognostication, particularly in resource-poor settings. This study aimed to identify the most common causes and prognostic factors of NTC in a tertiary hospital in Bukavu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) as well as other simple and affordable clinical and paraclinical tools. This retrospective observational study included 219 consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit of the Provincial General Hospital of Bukavu between January 2016 and December 2018. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were also collected. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify different causes and factors associated with poor outcomes in these patients. The median age of the patients was 49 (interquartile range [IQR]: 33–61) years, and they were predominantly men (62.8%). The most common causes of NTC were stroke (25.7%), acute metabolic complications of diabetes (21.9%), and primary brain infections (meningoencephalitis, 16.0%; and cerebral malaria, 14.2%). The NTC-related in-hospital mortality rate was 35.2%. A high mortality was significantly and independently associated with a GCS<7 (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 4.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.73–10.71), the presence of meningismus at clinical evaluation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.86, 95%CI: 1.41–10.55), oxygen saturation <90% (aOR 3.99, 95%CI: 1.71–9.28), the consumption of traditional herbal medicines prior to hospital admission (aOR 2.82, 95%CI: 1.16–6.86), and elevated serum creatinine (aOR 1.64, 95%CI: 1.17–2.29). In conclusion, clinical neurological examinations, along with simple and affordable paraclinical investigations, can provide sufficient information to determine the etiology of NTC and evaluate the prognosis of comatose patients, even in resource-poor settings. Physicians may use the GCS as a simple, reliable, and affordable tool to identify patients who require special attention and care.

Viral, Bacterial, Metabolic, and Autoimmune Causes of Severe Acute Encephalopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Multicenter Cohort Study

To assess whether viral, bacterial, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases are missed by conventional diagnostics among children with severe acute encephalopathy in sub-Saharan Africa. One hundred thirty-four children (6 months to 18years) presenting with nontraumatic coma or convulsive status epilepticus to 1 of 4 medical referral centers in Uganda, Malawi, and Rwanda were enrolled between 2015 and 2016. Locally available diagnostic tests could be supplemented in 117 patients by viral, bacterial, and 16s quantitative polymerase chain reaction testing, metagenomics, untargeted metabolomics, and autoimmune immunohistochemistry screening. Fourteen (12%) cases of viral encephalopathies, 8 (7%) cases of bacterial central nervous system (CNS) infections, and 4 (4%) cases of inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) were newly identified by additional diagnostic testing as the most likely cause of encephalopathy. No confirmed cases of autoimmune encephalitis were found. Patients for whom additional diagnostic testing aided causal evaluation (aOR 3.59, 90% CI 1.57-8.36), patients with a viral CNS infection (aOR 7.91, 90% CI 2.49-30.07), and patients with an IMD (aOR 9.10, 90% CI 1.37-110.45) were at increased risk for poor outcome of disease. Viral and bacterial CNS infections and IMDs are prevalent causes of severe acute encephalopathy in children in Uganda, Malawi, and Rwanda that are missed by conventional diagnostics and are associated with poor outcome of disease. Improved diagnostic capacity may increase diagnostic yield and might improve outcome of disease.

Association Between Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and 30-Day Mortality and Readmission for Patients With Common Neurologic Conditions.

Patients of low individual socioeconomic status (SES) are at a greater risk of unfavorable health outcomes. However, the association between neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and health outcomes for patients with neurologic disorders has not been studied at the population level. Our objective was to determine the association between neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and 30-day mortality and readmission after hospitalization for various neurologic conditions. This was a retrospective study of nationwide Medicare claims from 2017 to 2019. We included patients older than 65 years hospitalized for the following broad categories based on diagnosis-related groups (DRGs): multiple sclerosis and cerebellar ataxia (DRG 058-060); stroke (061-072); degenerative nervous system disorders (056-057); epilepsy (100-101); traumatic coma (082-087), and nontraumatic coma (080-081). The exposure of interest was neighborhood SES, measured by the area deprivation index (ADI), which uses socioeconomic indicators, such as educational attainment, unemployment, infrastructure access, and income, to estimate area-level socioeconomic deprivation at the level of census block groups. Patients were grouped into high, middle, and low neighborhood-level SES based on ADI percentiles. Adjustment covariates included age, comorbidity burden, race/ethnicity, individual SES, and sex. After exclusions, 905,784 patients were included in the mortality analysis and 915,993 were included in the readmission analysis. After adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidity burden, and individual SES, patients from low SES neighborhoods had higher 30-day mortality rates compared with patients from high SES neighborhoods for all disease categories except for multiple sclerosis: magnitudes of the effect ranged from an adjusted odds ratio of 2.46 (95% CI 1.60-3.78) for the nontraumatic coma group to 1.23 (95% CI 1.19-1.28) for the stroke group. After adjustment, no significant differences in readmission rates were observed for any of the groups. Neighborhood SES is strongly associated with 30-day mortality for many common neurologic conditions even after accounting for baseline comorbidity burden and individual SES. Strategies to improve health equity should explicitly consider the effect of neighborhood environments on health outcomes.

Role of Orbital Ultrasound in the Monitoring of Children with Raised Intracranial Pressure—Prospective Observational Study Conducted in Tertiary Care Centre

AbstractOur objective was to evaluate the role of optic nerve sheath diameter measurement by orbital ultrasound in monitoring children with nontraumatic coma and increased intracranial pressure (ICP). A single-center prospective observational study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care teaching hospital in Puducherry, India. Children admitted to the PICU with features of raised ICP were enrolled. Baseline characteristics and raised ICP characteristics were recorded. Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurements were taken in all children in the supine position using bedside ultrasound with a 12 MHz linear probe. The probe was initially placed in the axial plane, and measurements were taken at a distance of 3 mm posterior to the site at which the optic nerve enters the globe. Measurements were recorded sequentially 8th hourly till ICP features got resolved or the patient died. Along with each measurement, clinical parameters were recorded. The ONSD measurements were compared with clinical features. We also recruited children admitted to the PICU for other conditions without features of raised ICP as controls. We compared ONSD measurements of cases with controls. In total, 185 children were recruited, of which 81 had features of raised ICP and 104 were without increased ICP. The ONSD measurements in children with raised ICP were significantly higher as compared with those without ICP. Among children with raised ICP, there was a negative correlation between ONSD and Glasgow Coma Scale scores (r = −0.739, p ≤ 0.0001). In children with raised ICP, there was a significant difference in ONSD at different intervals, demonstrating a falling trend from admission to 32nd-hour readings. ONSD measurements were higher in children with clinical signs of increased ICP compared with controls, thereby suggesting that this noninvasive measure may be helpful in the neuromonitoring of children with neurologic insults.

Multimodal Neuromonitoring in Pediatric Neurocritical Care: Current Perspectives.

Children with neurological illness in the critical care unit are always at higher risk of developing secondary brain injury (SBI). Brain insult can lead to changes in cerebral autoregulation, intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral oxygenation, and metabolism. This can cause a raised ICP, cerebral ischemia, hypoxia, excitotoxicity, cellular energy failure, and nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Simultaneous and continuous assessment of these parameters will help to improve patient care and neurological outcomes. Even thoughclinical examination and neuroimaging can help in the initial diagnosis of the neurological illness, they may not be helpful in continuous monitoring of cerebralpathophysiological changes. The ideal single neuromonitoring device to detect these real-time changes is currently unavailable. However, a range of invasive and noninvasive monitors are available to monitor these cerebral functional parameters. Invasive monitoring techniques include invasive ICP monitoring, cerebral autoregulation monitoring, brain tissue partial oxygen pressure, and cerebral microdialysis. Noninvasive-monitoring techniques include pupillometry, brain and ocular ultrasonography, near-infraredspectroscopy, and electrophysiological monitoring. Multimodal (MM) neuromonitoring involves incorporating these techniques and tools for the early identification and treatment of primary and secondary brain insults. The utility and feasibility of most of these techniques are well described in adult neurocritical care. Even though the evidence on their usage in children is primarily available in pediatric traumatic brain injury, the emerging data help to further expand their utility in pediatric nontraumatic coma. MM neuromonitoring aims to provide clinical and pathophysiological information to the intensivists to improve their understanding of the child's neurological status and to formulate patient-specific treatment approaches.

Erratum: Clinico-Etiological Profile and Predictors of Mortality of Nontraumatic Coma in Children of Upper Egypt: A Prospective Observational Study

Erratum: Clinico-Etiological Profile and Predictors of Mortality of Nontraumatic Coma in Children of Upper Egypt: A Prospective Observational Study

Therapeutic and Evolutionary Aspects of Non-Traumatic Comas in Central African Children

Introduction Non-traumatic coma is the most common pediatric medical emergency. Their therapeutic and evolutionary profile remains controversial in resource-limited countries. We report our experience with 370 children. Objective To evaluate the management and evolution of nontraumatic comas in the intensive care unit of the Pediatric Hospital Complex of Bangui (CHUPB). Materials and methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted between January 1 and June 31, 2021 at the CHUPB. Children aged 1 month to 15 years, admitted to the intensive care unit of CHUPB with a Glasgow score less than or equal to 8 in a trauma-free setting were included. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software. The statistical test used was Pearson’s chi-square. Any p-value &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result During the study period, 370 children were admitted to the intensive care unit of CHUPB for non-traumatic coma. The sex ratio was 1.35 and the mean age was 35.95±27.21 months. Neuromalaria (29.72%), meningitis-meningoencephalitis-encephalitis (30%), septic states (19.72%) and acidotic coma (5.40%) were the main etiologies. The children had received emergency drug treatment based on anticonvulsants in 59.18% of cases, antipyretics in 91.35% of cases and dopamine 18.1% of cases. Drug treatment was adapted to the etiology in 44.60% of cases and probabilistic in 55.40% (n=205) of cases. Neurological sequelae were noted in 8.93% of cases and death in 36.48%, 57.77% of which occurred within the first 48 hours. Conclusion Infectious diseases are the predominant cause of biologically documented non-traumatic comas and are also the cause of non-documented clinical situations. This reality has induced the use of anti-infectives beyond the rational with an outcome marked by high mortality and sequelae. The transformation of these outcomes requires the reinforcement of the technical platform of the CHUPB.

Abstract 313: Association Of Gray-White Matter Ratio With Severe Cerebral Edema In Comatose Cardiac Arrest Patients

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that lower gray:white matter ratio (GWR) is associated with poor outcomes in patients initially comatose after cardiac arrest. However, those studies focused on survival, a measure that may be confounded by withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST) decisions. We assessed the association of GWR with severe cerebral edema (SCE), a more objective imaging surrogate for neurologic injury. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed datasets acquired as part of a prospective observational study of 500 cardiac arrest patients with non-traumatic coma. Our analyses were limited to patients who underwent CT within 72 h of arrest, resulting in 151 patients. Some patients underwent repeat imaging, leading to a total of 175 imaging studies. Regions of interests (ROIs; 3x3) were drawn bilaterally in the caudate nuclei (CN) and posterior limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC) at the level of the basal ganglia on non-contrast axial CT scans. GWR was calculated as the ratio of mean x-ray attenuation in the CN to that in the PLIC. Scans whose radiology report described herniation or more than minimal ventricular effacement were classified as SCE. Poor outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale Score &gt; 4 at 6 months. Results: Patients with SCE were more likely to be younger (P&lt;.0001), have a non-shockable rhythm (P=0.028), have a worse Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on hospital admission (P=0.0047) and have a significantly lower GWR (P&lt;.0001) compared to patients without SCE (see Table 1). Patients with SCE had a higher proportion of deaths at discharge due to brain death (P&lt;0.0001). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with poor outcomes between the groups (P=0.13). Conclusion: For patients initially comatose after cardiac arrest, significant reductions in GWR are associated with SCE. Since this study utilized SCE as intermediate outcome measure for neurologic injury, these GWR results are not confounded by WLST decisions.

Etiology matters for neuroprognostication: A multimodal electrophysiological investigation in a case of Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis

We report the case of a 19-year-old patient with an acute-onset non-traumatic coma. Brain MRI scan was normal, CSF showed mild pleocytosis and moderately elevated protein, and continuous EEG-monitoring was compatible with spindle-coma. Cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and middle-latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEPs) were bilaterally absent, and brainstem auditory evoked potentials suggested a brainstem dysfunction. Serum anti-GQ1b and anti-GT1a IgG antibodies positivity suggested Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis (BBE). The clinical and functional outcomes were favorable and normal cortical SSEPs/MLAEPs reappeared in a few weeks. Based on this report, in cases of unexplained MRI-negative coma with neurophysiological evidence of brainstem dysfunction, BBE should be eliminated before considering withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST).

Clinico-Etiological Profile and Predictors of Mortality of Nontraumatic Coma in Children of Upper Egypt: A Prospective Observational Study.

Nontraumatic coma (NTC) is a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality in children. This prospective observational study aimed to determine the clinico-etiological profile of NTC in children and delineate clinical signs predicting mortality in Upper Egypt from June 2019 to May 2020. All children from 1 month of age to 16 years who were admitted with NTC were included in the study. All patients received full histories and physical examinations, including Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Routine laboratory investigations including complete blood count, electrolytes, blood sugar, serum creatinine, and liver function tests were performed for all patients. Specific investigations such as metabolic studies, lumbar punctures, brain computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance imaging were done when indicated. The precise etiology was determined and clinical presentations for survivors and nonsurvivors were compared. Among the 137 cases of NTC identified, central nervous system (CNS) infections were the most common cause leading to 38 cases, followed by toxic causes in 37 cases, status epilepticus in 22 cases, and metabolic causes in 21 cases. Hypothermia, hypotension, abnormal respiratory patterns, muscle hypotonia, absent corneal reflex, presence of shock, and need for mechanical ventilation were significantly correlating with mortality. The estimated mortality rate was 18.2% and all cases with GCS < 5 died. Toxic causes were the most commonly identified etiology in patients who died. In conclusion, the authors identified several etiologies for NTC in Upper Egypt and their corresponding clinical signs at presentation. This information can be used to improve the clinical care provided to children with NTC.

Non-traumatic coma in young children in Benin: are viral and bacterial infections gaining ground on cerebral malaria?

BackgroundWhile malaria morbidity and mortality have declined since 2000, viral central nervous system infections appear to be an important, underestimated cause of coma in malaria-endemic Eastern Africa. We aimed to describe the etiology of non-traumatic comas in young children in Benin, as well as their management and early outcomes, and to identify factors associated with death.MethodsFrom March to November 2018, we enrolled all HIV-negative children aged between 2 and 6 years, with a Blantyre Coma Score ≤ 2, in this prospective observational study. Children were screened for malaria severity signs and assessed using a systematic diagnostic protocol, including blood cultures, malaria diagnostics, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis using multiplex PCR. To determine factors associated with death, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.ResultsFrom 3244 admissions, 84 children were included: malaria was diagnosed in 78, eight of whom had a viral or bacterial co-infection. Six children had a non-malarial infection or no identified cause. The mortality rate was 29.8% (25/84), with 20 children dying in the first 24 h. Co-infected children appeared to have a poorer prognosis. Of the 76 children who consulted a healthcare professional before admission, only 5 were prescribed adequate antimalarial oral therapy. Predictors of early death were jaundice or increased bilirubin [odd ratio (OR)= 8.6; 95% confidential interval (CI): 2.03–36.1] and lactate > 5 mmol/L (OR = 5.1; 95% CI: 1.49–17.30). Antibiotic use before admission (OR = 0.1; 95% CI: 0.02–0.85) and vaccination against yellow fever (OR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.05–0.79) protected against mortality.ConclusionsInfections were found in all children who died, and cerebral malaria was by far the most common cause of non-traumatic coma. Missed opportunities to receive early effective antimalarial treatment were common. Other central nervous system infections must be considered in their management. Some factors that proved to be protective against early death were unexpected.

Disorders of Consciousness

The components of consciousness are classically separated into two major groups: level of arousal and content of thought processes (better known as being awake and aware). Disorders can affect both components or can affect only the content of consciousness. Physicians assess consciousness indirectly by observing a patient’s response to stimuli. This chapter covers the clinical approach to the comatose patient, which discusses history, physical examination (general and neurologic), localization principles, bihemispheric syndromes, and brainstem syndromes. Diagnostic tests discussed include blood tests, tests of other body fluids, and neuroimaging (e.g., computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, functional neuroimaging and physiologic testing). Also discussed are prognosis and brain death. Figures illustrate the Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) scale, the spectrum of pupil abnormalities and causes, as well as anatomic structures and dorsal and ventral pathways involved with the maintenance of consciousness. Tables include the Glasgow Coma Scale, blood gas abnormalities due to toxins, and prognostic factors in nontraumatic coma. This chapter contains 45 references.

Epidemiological, Clinical and Etiological Aspects of Non-Traumatic Comas in Children at the Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Bangui

Background: Non-traumatic coma is the most common pediatric medical emergency. Its clinical diagnosis is easy. The difficulty lies in finding the etiology. Objective: To determine the prevalence and clinical profiles of non-traumatic Coma at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique de Bangui (CHUPB). Methodology: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted between January 1 and June 31, 2021, at CHUPB. Children aged 1 month to 15 years, admitted to the emergency room with a Glasgow score less than or equal to 8 without any traumatism were included. The variables studied were sociodemographic, clinical and paraclinical. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software. The statistical test used was Pearson’s chi2, any p-value Results: Of 8551 children hospitalized during the study period, 370 were hospitalized for non-traumatic coma: 4.32%. They were divided into 57.5% (n = 213) boys and 42.44% (n = 157) girls, giving a sex ratio of 1.35. Their mean age was 35.95 ± 27.21 months. Children aged 1 to 24 months represented 54.59% (n = 202) of cases. The mean time to the consultation was 2.91 days ± 1.8. Fever 86.48% (n = 320) and convulsions 80% (n = 296) were the main reasons for consultation. Coma stages II - III and IV represented 52.44% (n = 194), 42.97% (n = 159) and 4.59% (n = 17) respectively. Neuromalaria (29.72%; n = 110), meningitis-meningoencephalitis-encephalitis (30%; n = 111), sepsis (19.72%; n = 73) and acidosis Coma (5.40%; n = 20) were the main etiologies. Conclusion: Non-traumatic coma is common at CHUPB. Infections were the main etiology, particularly cerebral malaria. The reduction of its frequency requires, among others, the strengthening of the national monitoring malaria program. The strengthening of the technical platform for a good etiological diagnosis constitutes the other axis of prevention.

Case report: \u201can unexpected origin of coma in a young adult\u201d

We report a peculiar case of acute non-traumatic coma due to neuromuscular hypoventilation syndrome caused by a non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI). A 21-year-old patient presented to the emergency room complaining of sudden onset weakness in his lower limbs and shortness of breath. While in the ER, he briefly became comatose and labs revealed an acute respiratory acidosis. Detailed neurologic examination ultimately revealed upper motor neuron signs and quadriplegia. He was ultimately diagnosed with a non-traumatic spinal cord injury, in particular, a cervical transverse myelitis which had caused acute diaphragmatic weakness. Although a very rare cause of coma, emergency medicine physicians need to be aware of transverse myelitis, a disorder that may result in rapidly progressive neurologic decline and is treated with immunomodulation.