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Distinguishing between the vegetative state (VS) and the minimally conscious state (MCS) can be difficult clinically. Two new reports add to the literature on the prognosis of VS and MCS patients.
An Italian team followed 50 patients (age range, 14–83) with VS caused by traumatic brain injury (36%), anoxic brain injury (28%), and hemorrhagic stroke (36%); all were admitted to a special vegetative-state facility an average of 11 months after VS diagnosis. Patients were examined repeatedly during a 5-month average stay in this facility and for another 10 months after discharge. During these periods of observation, 21 patients died. Among the 29 survivors, 17 remained in VS, 5 evolved to a minimally conscious state (MCS), and 7 recovered additi…