The diagnostic value of the neurological examination in coma of unknown etiology

Abstract

Background Identifying the cause of non-traumatic coma in the emergency department is challenging. The clinical neurological examination is the most readily available tool to detect focal neurological deficits as indicators for cerebral causes of coma. Previously proposed clinical pathways have granted the interpretation of clinical findings a pivotal role in the diagnostic work-up. We aimed to identify the actual diagnostic reliability of the neurological examination with regard to identifying acute brain damage. Methods Eight hundred and fifty-three patients with coma of unknown etiology (CUE) were examined neurologically in the emergency department following a predefined routine. Coma-explaining pathologies were identified retrospectively and grouped into primary brain pathology with proof of acute brain damage and other causes without proof of acute structural pathology. Sensitivity, specificity and percentage of correct predictions of different examination protocols were calculated using contingency tables and binary logistic regression models. Results The full neurological examination was 74% sensitive and 60% specific to detect acute structural brain damage underlying CUE. Sensitivity and specificity were higher in non-sedated patients (87/61%) compared to sedated patients (64%/59%). A shortened four-item examination protocol focusing on pupils, gaze and pyramidal tract signs was only slightly less sensitive (67%) and more specific (65%). Conclusions Due to limited diagnostic reliability of the physical examination, the absence of focal neurological signs in acutely comatose patients should not defer from a complete work-up including brain imaging. In an emergency, a concise neurological examination should thus serve as one part of a multimodal diagnostic approach to CUE.

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“…These features used to specify the percentage of carbon and oxygen in the blood, indicate the level of blood PH and patient's acid-base balance [98]. All of these are critical situations, affect patient response and may lead to sudden death [99,100]. Appendix A shows the feature names, Id, normal range and unit of measurement (UoM).…”

72/w mit Bewusstseinsstörung und Fieber nach Sturz

“… Das Syndrom der Patientin lässt sich am besten als quantitative Bewusstseinsstörung unklarer Genese beschreiben. Für die interne Logistik jedoch ist der Terminus Koma unklarer Genese auch bei einem nur gering reduzierten GCS oft sinnvoller, da es keine klare Korrelation zwischen GCS und zugrunde liegender Ätiologie gibt, der GCS häufig fluktuiert und es bei ihm ein relevantes Inter-Observer-Problem gibt [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]. …”

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“…Ct scan is usually employed for this distinguishment (9). Further examination and a complete history can help diagnose the cause of altered LOC (10). In addition, determining etiology is also used to predict the patient's prognosis (4).…”