Vegetative state outcomes improved over the last two decades

Abstract

The present study demonstrated an improvement in survival and recovery of consciousness in VS patients over the last two decades, and similar outcomes for both TBI and NTBI VS. Outcomes suggest that acute medical care and ICCR have contributed to advances in VS care.

Two-year outcomes of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness: a prospective cohort study in Russian Federation

“…The sample comprised 184 patients with severe acquired brain injuries in VS/UWS or MCS and represents demographic data. Traumatic aetiology is prevalent prevalence among all etiologies in our cohort, which is consistent with the data of other large studies (16). In addition, TBI patients are on average younger than patients of other etiologies, confirmed by other studies (17,18).…”

One-Year Demographical and Clinical Indices of Patients with Chronic Disorders of Consciousness

“…Epidemiological data obtained as a result of this study indicate the prevalence of TBI among all etiologies leading to DOC, which is consistent with the data of other large studies [ 15 ]. TBI patients are on average younger than representatives of other nosological forms, which is also confirmed by the results of studies by other authors [ 11 , 13 ].…”

“…Thus, Luaute et al [ 10 ] revealed that patients with a higher level of consciousness (MCS+) demonstrate a higher survival rate and rehabilitation potential. In their work, Baricich et al [ 14 ] observed patients in VS/UWS for four years showing a 40% survival rate, which is comparable to the data obtained in the study by Aidinoff et al [ 15 ]. However, it is strikingly different from the results demonstrated in the work of Pascarella et al [ 18 ], where the six-year survival rate hovers around 70%, probably due to the large proportion of patients in MCS.…”

Olfactory sniffing signals consciousness in unresponsive patients with brain injuries

“…Whereas the above relates our findings to basic research on the brain mechanisms of consciousness, our results also have very immediate clinical implications: Improvements in emergency medicine have increased survival-rates after brain injury, but paradoxically, have resulted in increasing numbers of survivors living with DoC 35,36 . As previously noted, the rate of misdiagnosis in these patients is an alarming ~40% 4,5 .…”