Correlation of the Blinking reflex with clinical feature in severe neurological patients

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to correlate the improvement of the conscience level and the inspiratory muscle force with the appearance of the blinking reflex and to demonstrate through these events the valuable prognostic of this reflex. Method: A group of 8 patients with average age 20-82 years with neurological pathology submitted to Mechanical Ventilation (MV) was studied. Once a day in fixed schedules, the conscience level, through Glasgow Coma Scale and Jouvet Coma Scale (including the blinking reflex), was evaluated in the beginning of the physical therapy attendance and the inspiratory muscle force, through the measure of Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), at the end after attendance. Results: We observed that all the patients that had presented positive blinking reflex had left the MV. A direct correlation was noticed between the appearance of the blinking reflex and the withdrawal of the MV. There was no relation between these events and the day when the patient presented the greater MIP with conscience level. Conclusion: The blinking reflex is a practical, trustworthy clinical marker, not very used in patients in MV with degradation of the conscience level, and being of great importance for patients prognostic.