Effects of Organized Auditory Stimulation by Familiar Voice on Blood Pressure and Body Temperature in Comatose Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Brain injury induced coma is the main cause of hospitalization of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and their consequent stressful physiological complications, which can be prevented using sensory stimulation as a therapeutic method. Nevertheless, identifying and using the optimal sensory stimulation program is crucial. Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the effects of organized auditory stimulation by familiar voice on blood pressure and body temperature in patients admitted to ICUs. Materials and Methods:The present clinical trial was conducted on 60 comatose patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to the ICU of Poursina Teaching Hospital, Rasht, Iran. The patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group (N=30) and the control group. In the intervention group, auditory stimulation was conducted using significant others' voices in three consecutive evening shifts, 10 minutes each time. Blood pressure and body temperature were evaluated using a checklist, and the findings obtained were analyzed using ANOVA, the t-test and the Chi-square test. Results:The results obtained revealed significant differences in the mean blood pressure and body temperature before and after auditory stimulation in the intervention group (P<0.001), while these differences were insignificant in the controls. The two groups were also found to be insignificantly different in terms of the three-day variations in the mean blood pressure and the mean body temperature. Conclusion: Given the significant effects of auditory stimulation on hemodynamic indicators, auditory stimulation by familiar voice is recommended in comatose patients admitted to ICUs through face-to-face visits with their family members or by playing their recorded voice.

The Effect of Video Call with Family Members on Physiological Parameters of Critically Ill Patients in Intensive Care Unit: A Quasi-experimental Study

“…26 Further, organized auditory stimulation with a familiar voice caused significant differences in BP and body temperature in critically ill patients. 14 …”

“…30 Interaction of conscious patients with family members decreases sympathetic system activity and lowers stress and consequently may lead to hemodynamic changes. 14 , 31 …”

“… 12 , 13 Mohammadi et al determined that organized auditory stimulation by a familiar voice affects BP, body temperature, and consciousness level in patients admitted to the ICU and recommended habitual use of this application. 14 , 15 Meanwhile Karabacak et al found that visits to ICU patients had no effect on PR, respiration, BP, and SpO 2 level. 16 …”

Effect of family reorientation messages on delirium prevention among critically ill patients

“…Familiar voices increase the activation in higher-level of cortical areas and stimulate long-term memory traces as these sounds are encoded in the critically ill patients' long-term memories. [20,21] Furthermore, including emotional content in the voice messages to the patients may engage a higher level of cortical processing and trigger neural responses which in turn enhance the patients' attention. As delirium is featured with impaired short-term memory, impaired attention, and disorientation, using of familiar auditory stimuli is useful in preventing critically ill patients to develop delirium during their ICU stay.…”