Vegetative State Following Coma in Childhood: Evolution and Outcome

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Data were analyzed for 17 children who showed features of the vegetative state following an acute illness that resutled in coma. A total of 15 were under 3 yr of age. Diffuse anoxia/ischemia (N = 12) and meningitis (N = 4) were the most common causes of the comatose state. Of the patients, 7 died, and 9 of the 10 survivors remained severely neurodevelopmentally handicapped, with no cognitive function (follow-up 2 mo.-5 yr). A year after the initial insult 1 child became ambulant, and is moderately retarded. Children who develop the vegetative state following an illness resulting in coma apparently have a poor prognosis and decorticate or decerebrate responses, roving eye-movements and spontaneous blinking may be early indicators of its emergence.

This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit: