ABSTRACT

Monitoring critically ill patients with a decreased level of consciousness is challenging. It is suggested that bispectral index monitoring (BIS) may be useful in the assessment of neurologic functions for critical care patients because simplicity is its essence. The aim of this randomised, prospective study was to assess the correlation of BIS with the Glasgow coma score modified by Cook and Palma (GCSC) and Ramsay sedation scale (RSS) for the measurement of neurologic status in critically ill patients.

Thirty-eight patients ranged from 15 to 65 years of age were evaluated for level of consciousness using BIS, GCSC and RSS in addition to standard intensive care monitorization. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to correlate the BIS scores with clinical scales.

BIS values correlated significantly with RSS (r= -0,388; p= 0,016) and GCSC (r= 0,629; p= 0,001). GCSC was significantly correlated with RSS (r= -0,518; p= 0,001).

It was concluded that BIS is suitable for monitoring the neurologic status in unsedated critically ill patients. BIS was well correlated with the clinical assessment based on various scores.

Keywords: Critical care, electroencephalography, bispectral index, consciousness