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Mayo Clinic proceedings · Aug 2005
ReviewClinical diagnosis of prolonged states of impaired consciousness in adults.
- Eelco F M Wijdicks and Ronald E Cranford.
- Department of Neurology and Division of Critical Care Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. wijde@mayo.edu
- Mayo Clin. Proc. 2005 Aug 1; 80 (8): 1037-46.
AbstractA prolonged state of impaired consciousness is a devastating consequence of severe structural brain injury but fortunately is uncommon. Patients may be diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state, having akinetic mutism, or being in a minimally conscious state. These conditions can be distinguished from each other by a comprehensive clinical neurologic examination. Recovery is determined by age, cause, and time in such state. For patients diagnosed as being in a permanent (irreversible) vegetative state, hope for a clinically meaningful recovery is unrealistic after 1 year. Prolonged survival is possible only with meticulous care and aggressive medical intervention to prevent and treat systemic complications.
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