Basic Summary for Persistent Vegetative State
Main name of condition: Persistent Vegetative State
Other names or spellings: PVS, Brain death
What is Persistent Vegetative State?
Brief description of Persistent Vegetative State: Physically alive with basic mental function but without high mental capacity.
Parent types of Persistent Vegetative State: Brain conditions
Organs Affected by Persistent Vegetative State: brain
How serious is Persistent Vegetative State?
Prognosis of 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. 1
Complications of Persistent Vegetative State: see complications of Persistent Vegetative State
What causes Persistent Vegetative State?
Causes of Persistent Vegetative State: see causes of Persistent Vegetative State
What are the symptoms of Persistent Vegetative State?
Symptoms of Persistent Vegetative State: see symptoms of Persistent Vegetative State
How is it treated?
Treatments for Persistent Vegetative State: see treatments for Persistent Vegetative State
Footnotes:
1. excerpt from NINDS Coma Information Page: NINDS
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