Persistent Vegetative State

Introduction: Persistent Vegetative State

Persistent Vegetative State: A persistent vegetative state, which sometimes follows a coma, refers to a condition in which individuals have lost cognitive neurological ... more about Persistent Vegetative State.

Persistent Vegetative State: Physically alive with basic mental function but without high mental capacity. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Persistent Vegetative State is available below.

Symptoms of Persistent Vegetative State

• Lost cognitive function
• Lack of awareness of the environment
• Preserved non-cognitive function
  • Preserved sleep-wake cycle
  • Preserved respiration (breathing)

See full list of 7 symptoms of Persistent Vegetative State

Medical Textbooks Online about Persistent Vegetative State

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Persistent Vegetative State?

• Misdiagnosis of Persistent Vegetative State
• Underlying causes of Persistent Vegetative State (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Causes of Persistent Vegetative State

Read more about causes of Persistent Vegetative State.

More information about causes of Persistent Vegetative State:

• Persistent Vegetative State as a complication caused by other conditions
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Persistent Vegetative State

Treatments for Persistent Vegetative State

• Watchful waiting - some patients recovery some or all function over time.
• Preventing bed sores
• Pneumonia prevention treatments
• Nutritional support
• Physical therapy

Read more about treatments for Persistent Vegetative State

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Patient Surveys for Persistent Vegetative State

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Prognosis for Persistent Vegetative State

Prognosis for Persistent Vegetative State: The outcome for coma and vegetative state depends on the cause and on the location, severity, and extent of neurological damage: outcomes range from recovery to death. People may emerge from a coma with a combination of physical, intellectual, and psychological difficulties that need special attention. Recovery usually occurs gradually, with patients acquiring more and more ability to respond. Some patients never progress beyond very basic responses, but many recover full awareness. Patients recovering from coma require close medical supervision. A coma rarely lasts more than 2 to 4 weeks. Some patients may regain a degree of awareness after vegetative state. Others may remain in a vegetative state for years or even decades. The most common cause of death for a person in a vegetative state is infection such as pneumonia. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Coma Information Page: NINDS)

More about prognosis of Persistent Vegetative State

Reseach about Persistent Vegetative State

Visit our research pages for current research about Persistent Vegetative State treatments.

Clinical Trials for Persistent Vegetative State

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Persistent Vegetative State include:

• The Effect of Nebulized Albuterol on Donor Oxygenation - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Albuterol
• Thyroxine Replacement in Organ Donors - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - L-thryoxine
• Protective Ventilatory Strategy in Potential Organ Donors - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• A Study to Tailor Advance Directives - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

Read more about Clinical Trials for Persistent Vegetative State

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Article Excerpts about Persistent Vegetative State

A persistent vegetative state, which sometimes follows a coma, refers to a condition in which individuals have lost cognitive neurological function and awareness of the environment but retain noncognitive function and a perserved sleep-wake cycle. It is sometimes described as when a person is technically alive, but his/her brain is dead. However, that description is not completely accurate. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Coma Information Page: NINDS)

Definitions of Persistent Vegetative State:

A state of prolonged irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including lower brain stem function with the complete absence of voluntary movements, responses to stimuli, brain stem reflexes, and spontaneous respirations. Reversible conditions which mimic this clinical state (e.g., sedative overdose, hypothermia, etc.) are excluded prior to making the determination of brain death. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp348-9) - (Source - Diseases Database)

Persistent Vegetative State is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Persistent Vegetative State, or a subtype of Persistent Vegetative State, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)