No abstract available.
Humans ; Persistent Vegetative State*

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

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

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

Rarely, rupture of a cerebral aneurysm causes an acute subdural hematoma(SDH) in addition to subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). We report clinical and radiological characteristics of five cases, as well as potential pitfalls in the diagnosis and the treatment of this life-threatening condition. The patients ranged in age from 42 to 76 years. The Hunt-Hess grade on admission was gradeIII in one patient, gradeIV in two, and grade V in two. All five patients underwent one-stage operation (both SDH evacuation and clipping of the aneurysm). The outcome was good recovery in two patients, persistent vegetative state in two, and death in one. Patients with a good outcome had a better Hunt-Hess grade on admission, with less amount of SDH.
Aneurysm* ; Diagnosis* ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute* ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Rupture

The simultaneous occurrence of intracerebral hemorrhages in different arterial territories is an uncommon clinical event. The authers report a case of simultaneous bilateral intracerebral hemorrhages treated with stereotactic aspiration. A 64-year-old male presented with simultaneous bilateral intracerebral hemorrhages in the both putamens. The hematomas were demonstrated by computed tomography performed after a few hours of onset. The patient underwent computed tomography-guided stereotactic aspiration but he finally became vegetative state. Most of patients reported previously usually have unfavorable functional outcome and high mortality because of the severe neurological deficits. Therefore, the role of the surgical treatment in case of bilateral intracerebral hemorrhages should be surveyed closely in according to clinical state. The authors describe a case of simultaneous bilateral intracerebral hemorrhages and with discussion focused in the predisposing factors, pathogenesis and therapeutic approach.
Causality ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Putamen

Valproic acid (VPA) is one of the most commonly used antiepileptic drug, but has many drug-drug interactions. A 58-year-old male under the vegetative state has been well controlled with valproic acid (VPA) monotherapy without seizure attacks during the last 6 months. Pneumonia developed and panipenem-betamipron (PAPM-BP) for acinetobacter baumannii was administered. Seizure attacks recurred after 12 days of initiating PAPM-BP. During the maintenance period of PAPM-BP, serum level of VPA was decreased. After the cessation of PAPM-BP, serum level of VPA increased to the previous level without further seizure attacks. PAPM-BP should be cautiously used together with VPA because of possible drug-drug interaction.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Pneumonia ; Recurrence* ; Seizures* ; Valproic Acid*

One Hundred and eight patients received operation for acute subdural hematoma were evaluated in prognostic factors. They were admitted to the Neurosurgical Department in S.R.C.H during the 3 years from January, 1986 to December, 1988. The results were as follows ; 1) The patients were consist of 85 male patients and 23 female patients with the sex ratio 3.7 : 1. 2) Evaluated prognostic factors were age and sex, preoperative Glasgow coma scale(GCS), preoperative pathological physical findings, time interval from injury to operation, type of injury, midline shift, location of hematoma, thickness of hematoma, and operative procedure. 3) On the statistical analysis, factors of GCS and midline shift were considerable significant factors. 4) In the overall results of 108 patients, 47 patients(43.5%) had good recovery, 9 patients(8.3%) had moderate disabled state, 2 patients(1.9%) were severe disabled state, 4 patients(3.7%) were vegetative state, and 46 patients(42.6%) died.
Coma ; Female ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute* ; Humans ; Male ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Sex Ratio ; Surgical Procedures, Operative