No abstract available.
Humans ; Persistent Vegetative State*

No abstract available.
Brain ; Brain Death ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Regeneration

Although the life expectancy of posttraumatic persistent vegetative state is obviously expected to be shorter than that of the general population, exact estimates of the length of survival are not available, however. The author, after reviewing literatures on the definition, criteria for diagnosis, and prognosis of the persistent vegetative state, has proposed a table for the estimation of life expectancy of posttraumatic persistent vegetative state. In this proposal, age and sex of the patient as well as the duration of the vegetative state were used as determining factors of lifespan. Although this proposal is not based on the actual data, it still could serve as a helpful reference to estimate the patients life expectancy and minimizing discrepancies among clinicians with different personal experience.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Life Expectancy* ; Persistent Vegetative State* ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Adult ; Dumping Syndrome ; Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Persistent Vegetative State

Detecting signs of learning in persons diagnosed to be in a post-coma vegetative state and minimally conscious state (MCS) may modify their diagnosis. We report the case of a 65-year-old female in a vegetative state. We used microswitch-based technology that is based on patient response to eye-blinking. We followed an ABABCB design, in which A represented baseline periods, B intervention periods with stimuli contingent on the responses, and C a control condition with stimuli presented non-contingently. We observed the level of response during the B phases was higher than the level of A and C phases. This indicated the patient showed signs of learning. This state was confirmed by an evaluation through the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRSR) score, and after completion of this study her CRSR score changed from 4 to 10. We believe microswitch technology may be useful to make a diagnosis of MCS and offer new opportunities for education to MCS patients.
Aged ; Coma ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; Persistent Vegetative State

Detecting signs of learning in persons diagnosed to be in a post-coma vegetative state and minimally conscious state (MCS) may modify their diagnosis. We report the case of a 65-year-old female in a vegetative state. We used microswitch-based technology that is based on patient response to eye-blinking. We followed an ABABCB design, in which A represented baseline periods, B intervention periods with stimuli contingent on the responses, and C a control condition with stimuli presented non-contingently. We observed the level of response during the B phases was higher than the level of A and C phases. This indicated the patient showed signs of learning. This state was confirmed by an evaluation through the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRSR) score, and after completion of this study her CRSR score changed from 4 to 10. We believe microswitch technology may be useful to make a diagnosis of MCS and offer new opportunities for education to MCS patients.
Aged ; Coma ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; Persistent Vegetative State

The swelling of the brain is very common after head injury. Initially, it is said to be due to dysfunction in the autoregulatory control of cerebral blood flow following head injury. Diffuse brain swelling, so called 'malignant brain edema', is rare except in children and adolescents. Similar condition is also well known as second impact syndrome of which the recent study questions the existence, when the sports-related head injury occurs especially in adolescents. Diffuse brain swelling can cause death or persistent vegetative state even though the head injury is mild. The authors report a case of acute traumatic cerebral edema without herniation.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Brain Edema ; Brain Injuries ; Child ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Humans ; Persistent Vegetative State

In the management of the traumatized gravid and her fetus, diagnostic tests and therapy should be directed primarily at the care of the mother and should not be delayed or compromised because of the pregnancy. Because many factors can damage when the mother is unconscious, fetal well-being should be assessed by serial biophysical profile scoring. If the mother's condition is stable as in the chronic vegetative state, elective delivery might best be performed at a gestational age of 32 to 34 weeks.
Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Mothers ; Persistent Vegetative State* ; Pregnancy*

OBJECTIVE: About 40% of patients who admit to the hospital after subarachnoid hemorrhage are poor clinical grade(Hunt-Hess grade IV, V). The majority of these patients have been excluded from early, aggressive treatment. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the outcome of urgent surgery for Hunt-Hess grade IV aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed hospital records and radiographic studies of 36 patients who were Hunt-Hess grade IV among 201 cases with ruptured intracranial aneurysm admitted between Sep. 1995 and Dec. 2000. Operated patients were treated with urgent angiography and surgery within 24 hours of presentation, except six patients, and medical records of these patients were reviewed for the clinical course and Glasgow outcome scale(GOS). RESULTS: Overall management results of the 36 patients were good recovery in 13(36.1%), moderate disability in 12 (33.3%), severe disability in 1(2.8%), vegetative state in 1(2.8%) and 9(25.0%) of surgically treated patients had died. CONCLUSION: Although with limited number of patients, we conclude that urgent surgery for Hunt-Hess grade IV patients results in a better neurologic outcome and urgent surgery combined with aggressive postoperative management can minimize mortality.
Angiography ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Medical Records ; Mortality ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) that occurs simultaneously in different sites is an uncommon malady. Moreover, ICH occurring simultaneously in the supra- and infra-tentorial regions is a rare clinical event. A 74-year-old female presented with multiple ICHs and intraventricular hemorrhage, and she displayed a semicomatose mentality. The ICH occurred in the right basal ganglia and the pons extending to the midbrain. Conservative management was performed, and the patient remained in a vegetative state. We report here on a rare case of multiple hypertensive ICH that occurred simultaneously in the supra- and infra-tentorial regions.
Aged ; Basal Ganglia ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhage, Hypertensive ; Mesencephalon ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Pons