What is a minimally conscious state?
A person who shows clear but minimal or inconsistent awareness is classified as being in a minimally conscious state. They may have periods where they can communicate or respond to commands, such as moving a finger when asked. A person may enter a minimally conscious state after being in a coma or vegetative state.
Can someone in a vegetative state open their eyes?
A person in a vegetative state may open their eyes, wake up and fall asleep at regular intervals and have basic reflexes, such as blinking when they’re startled by a loud noise, or withdrawing their hand when it’s squeezed hard. They’re also able to regulate their heartbeat and breathing without assistance.
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.
Can someone recover from minimally conscious state?
Prognosis for Minimally Conscious State Most people in a minimally conscious state tend to improve continuously, but improvement is limited. A few people regain the ability to communicate and understand, sometimes after many years. However, very few recover enough to live and function independently.
How do you treat minimally conscious state?
Most patients in a minimally conscious state do not respond to specific treatments. However, in some cases, treatment with zolpidem, apomorphine, or amantadine can lead to improvement in neurologic responsiveness for as long as the drug is continued.
What comes after minimally conscious state?
A minimally conscious state may result from brain damage, or it may follow a vegetative state as people recover some function.
Can a patient recover from vegetative state?
Some people recover from a vegetative state, but it is usually not a complete recovery. The brain damage will likely result in permanent disabilities. Recovery is most likely if the cause of the vegetative state is an injury or a reversible condition such as low blood sugar or a drug overdose.
Can people recover from minimally conscious state?
How do you reverse vegetative state?
Is There Treatment for a Vegetative State? Once doctors have determined that there is no way to reverse the brain trauma, treatment involves caring for the person’s physical needs. People can live in a vegetative state for years if they get appropriate care.
Can you breathe on your own if you have no brain activity?
When someone is ‘brain dead’ they have no reflexes and cannot breathe on their own. They will never regain consciousness or the ability to breathe and are considered legally dead. Usually when someone loses brain stem function they stop breathing, their heart stops and they are clearly dead.