Persistent Vegetative State, Diagnosis, and Recovery

Vegetative State

A vegetative state defines as a disorder of consciousness or altered consciousness. This state is caused by powerful brain damage. A person may look like they’re awake, but he does not have an awareness of their surroundings.

Symptoms of a Vegetative State

• Lack of consciousness. Someone in this state doesn’t show the usual signs of consciousness, such as being able to respond to commands, speak, move with purpose, or bypass painful stimuli.
• A vegetative state meaning is a person that has normal physical functions including heartbeat and breathing. These types of persons sleep and wake up in typical patterns. They also chew and swallow food.
• It may make sounds, though they don’t use language. The patient Keeps their eyes open when they are awake.
• They may react to sudden stimuli around them and have a functional startle reflex.
• There are some common tests in order to check if there is any brain response to commands or questions.  Doctors may do imaging tests such as a PET scan to look for treatable disorders that are causing the lack of consciousness.
• Doctors may also do a functional MRI.

Are Patients in a Vegetative state Recognize Loved Ones?

A person in a vegetative state experiences an issue where extreme brain damage caused by trauma confines them to a partial state of awareness. Most patients in a persevering vegetative use a feeding tube but usually, need not bother with some other life-supporting equipment. The main purpose of research is just how aware the vegetative patient are, whether they are to some extent cognizant, or in all the more a fanciful state.

Is Recovery Possible?

Brain death and persistent vegetative state have similarities however they are not something very similar. Brain death depends upon the death of the brain and therefore it is equal to death. It suggests a total and extremely durable loss of forebrain function, not the capability of the mind stem. It is analyzed once a patient has been in a vegetative state for longer than a period of 1 month.

This condition is extremely rare and is often due to a traumatic brain injury. Although it is extremely for a person’s condition to improve, it is possible. This improvement will not likely be hard but some parts of body function can be reestablished. Hence, PVS is not considered a permanent disability. Impacted patients might have the option to arrive at a more cognizant condition of being.

Treatment Options of Vegetative State

Currently, there is no complete cure or treatment available for the recovery of the affected patient. Medication can only improve health but the main treatment is supportive care. Supporting care can include the following.