What is meant by vegetative state?
A vegetative state is a disorder of consciousness or an altered consciousness. It is caused by severe brain damage. Someone in a persistent vegetative state may look like they’re awake, but they don’t have an awareness of their surroundings.
What is the meaning of a persistent vegetative state?
We define persistent vegetative state as a vegetative state present one month after acute traumatic or nontraumatic brain injury or lasting for at least one month in patients with degenerative or metabolic disorders or developmental malformations.
Is vegetative state temporary?
The vegetative state must be distinguished from the minimally conscious state. Both states can be permanent or temporary, and the physical examination may not reliably distinguish one from the other. Sufficient observation is needed. If observation is too brief, evidence of awareness may be overlooked.
What is the difference between vegetative state and persistent vegetative state?
The word coma usually refers to the state in which a person appears to be asleep but cannot be awakened. Persistent vegetative state refers to another form of altered consciousness in which the person appears to be awake but does not respond meaningfully to the outside world.
Can you yawn while in a coma?
Patients in this state of consciousness may exhibit behaviors that lead family members to incorrectly believe they are becoming awake and communicative. These behaviors can include grunting, yawning and moving the head and limbs.
Can vegetative state feel pain?
A person diagnosed as being in a vegetative state has an operation without anaesthetic because they cannot feel pain.
Can a person in a vegetative state hear you?
Other studies have shown that up to 20 percent of patients in various vegetative states can hear and respond on at least some level. But at least some of the responses seen could be dismissed as simple reflexes, or at best akin to someone in a dream state responding to stimuli.
Why do coma patients cry?
The electroencephalogram (EEG), which measures activity in the cortex, seat of such higher functions as thoughts and emotions, was mentioned by the ambiguity. A comatose patient may open his eyes, move and even cry while still remaining unconscious. His brain-stem reflexes are attached to a nonfunctioning cortex.
Is brain dead the same as vegetative state?
Brain death: Irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem. A person who is brain dead is dead, with no chance of revival. Vegetative state: The person has depressed consciousness, brain stem function and can breathe without support.
Do vegetative patients feel pain?
What does persistent vegetative state mean?
Persistent vegetative state. The persistent vegetative state is defined as a vegetative state present at 1 month after acute traumatic or nontraumatic brain injury, or present for at least 1 month in patients with degenerative or metabolic disorders or developmental malformations.45.
What is a vegetative state of consciousness?
If you have a loved one who’s in an unaware and unresponsive state, doctors may refer to it as a “vegetative” state. But variations of this term have been used in ways to insult or hurt others. Because of the confusion and pain it may cause loved ones, neurologists are searching for a better term for this state of consciousness.
What is the vegetative stage?
What Does Vegetative Stage Mean? In horticulture, the vegetative stage refers to the phase of plant growth that occurs after germination/seedling stage and before flowering, during which the plant develops the majority of its foliage, a strong root system, and truly flourishes.
What are the causes and symptoms of vegetative state?
Causes and symptoms. The vegetative state can be caused by: Patients in a vegetative state apparently have functioning of a special area in the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS) responsible for sleep-wake cycles.