Several issues with SCS surgical wake up promotion

Since we started in SCS wake-up surgery in 2012, we have accumulated a number of cases and a significant number of patients have been revived by SCS surgery. As SCS surgery is gradually becoming known, more and more units are performing it. The key to SCS awakening treatment is assessment. Not all patients in vegetative survival are suitable for SCS! It is difficult to confirm that there is residual consciousness (MCS state) after multiple means of brain function assessment. We mainly use multimodal neurological function assessment by PET+EEG+ERP+DWI+fMRI, and the related research has been funded by NSF. The problem of timing of SCS surgery. In clinical practice, we often encounter examples of patients with traumatic brain injury or hemorrhage who gradually wake up on their own after 1-2 months of coma. This also reminds us not to make premature judgments about the patient’s vegetative survival. We should not consider wake-up surgery until the patient has been in a coma for at least 2 months (after effective medical wake-up treatment has failed). It is true that SCS is effective in increasing the level of consciousness. However, the management of post-surgical complications and the application of other wake-promoting methods are very important. SCS does not mean the end of the treatment of wakefulness. SCS is not an immediate treatment. Based on the treatment principle of SCS, it is decided that even if SCS can “wake up” a vegetative person, the effect will not be shown in a few days. Our experience shows that most awakened patients show improvement in MRI levels 1 month after SCS is turned on, with slight changes in consciousness occurring only 2-3 months later, and even 8 months later. Therefore, postoperative follow-up is extremely important, not only to determine whether SCS is effective, but also to adjust the parameters of stimulation. Finally, I wish all patients and families in the world peace.