Persistent Vegetative State Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
A persistent vegetative state is a condition of decreased consciousness which is characterized by the state of the sufferer who appears to be awake but unable to respond to other people and the surrounding environment.
Sufferers can open and blink their eyes, sometimes they can also yawn or make indistinct sounds. However, sufferers cannot move their limbs and cannot be invited to communicate. This disturbance of consciousness occurs in the long term, generally more than four weeks. Most cases of persistent vegetative state are irreversible.
The condition of a persistent vegetative state must be distinguished from other types of loss of consciousness, such as:
- Coma, which is a type of decreased consciousness characterized by the sufferer being completely unconscious. Eyes closed, no response when called, also no reaction when given painful stimuli. The coma usually lasts 2–4 weeks. If it’s more than that, the coma generally develops into a vegetative state or minimally conscious state.
- Minimally conscious state, which is a disturbance of consciousness characterized by ups and downs of consciousness. Sometimes the sufferer is fully conscious, sometimes unable to respond to the surrounding environment. This condition can be a permanent condition, but can also occur temporarily.
Symptoms
Patients with persistent vegetative states at first glance look like normal people. Sufferers can open their eyes, breathe spontaneously like normal people, have sleep and wake times, make unconscious and aimless movements (eg moving arms or legs), make indistinct sounds (eg make “aaah”, “oooh”, and it’s kind).
However, sufferers cannot respond to the surrounding environment. If spoken to, sufferers will not be able to respond, and cannot show emotion. In addition, sufferers of persistent vegetative state can only lie down or sit up in bed, unable to carry out daily activities.
Reason
The causes of the persistent vegetative state vary widely. But in principle, this condition occurs due to disturbances in the brain. These disturbances can be:
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Severe head injury
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Poisoning by substances that affect the brain, for example, alcohol or narcotic poisoning
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Blockage stroke (ischemic stroke)
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Brain hemorrhage
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Other brain disorders
Diagnosis
The condition of a persistent vegetative state can be known by observing and physical examination of the patient. The presence of a persistent vegetative state was confirmed by a neurologist.
Furthermore, it is necessary to carry out an examination to find out the cause of the persistent vegetative state, including routine blood tests, kidney examinations, blood sugar checks, and brain CT- scans or MRIs.
Treatment
Treatment of a persistent vegetative state requires a long time, often for life. People with this disorder do not always recover. Some cases of persistent vegetative state will be permanent.
Treatment of this condition is supportive. This means that treatment is carried out to support the patient so that he can live as optimally as possible.
Patients with persistent vegetative states cannot chew and swallow food. Therefore, it is necessary to install a feeding tube that is inserted from the nose or mouth into the stomach as a means of providing food for the patient. The food that is inserted into the tube is in the form of blended food or milk.
In addition, to prevent injuries to the back and buttocks that can occur as a result of lying down for a long time, the patient must be turned left and right every two hours. To ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D, as much as possible people with this disorder are exposed to sunlight in the morning for at least 30 minutes.
Sufferers also need physiotherapy which aims to move the joints. It is important to do this regularly to prevent the joints from contracting (joint stiffness).
Apart from that, daily care for sufferers such as bathing, brushing teeth, defecating, and urinating also needs help.
Even though it doesn’t respond to people around it, sound stimulation (by talking), touch (touching or massaging the patient), smell (putting fragrant flowers in the room, using aromatherapy), visual (showing photos of the patient) must still be done to support brain recovery.
Prevention
Until now there has been nothing that can be done to prevent a persistent vegetative state.