a state of unconsciousness in which people can have eye
a type of coma that represents an awake but unresponsive state of consciousness
Also, perhaps more accurately, "persistent vegetative state" (sometimes abbreviated PVS). Brain damage and coma may progress to the point where a patient goes through normal sleep-waking cycles, but never regains consciousness. Such patients may be kept alive indefinitely, but offer no real possibility of improvement. The very few cases in which people have awoken from a long state of coma make the decision to withdraw treatment a difficult one for hopeful family members. But some cases are more clear-cut, at least from a medical standpoint. See also: definitions of death, futile treatment, quality of life. [See Case Studies related to Vegetative State
A state of survival after brain injury in which consciousness is altered to the degree that apparent wakefulness is regained but without conscious purposeful mental function. The patient is wakeful but is unaware and unresponsive to his or her surroundings. (See also persistant vegetative state.)
A condition in which the person utters no words and does not follow commands or make any response that is psychologically meaningful. The transition of a person who remains unconscious from a scare of "coma" to one of "vegetative behaviors" reflects subtle changes over a period of several months from a condition of no response to the internal or external environment (except reflexively) to a state of wakefulness but with no indication of awareness (cortical function). A person in this state may have a range of biological responses at the subcortical level such as eye opening (with sleep and wake rhythms) and sometimes the ability to follow with their eyes. Normal levels of blood pressure and respiration (vegetative functions) are maintained automatically. Also called Coma Vigil.
Return of wakefulness but not accompanied by cognitive function; eyes open to verbal stimuli; does not localize motor responses; autonomic functions preserved. Sleep-wake cycles exist. See Persistent Vegetative State.
Unawareness of self and environment with sleep-wake cycles and with either complete or partial preservation of brain-stem autonomic functions.
a condition in which patients are unconscious and unaware of their surroundings, but continue to have a sleep/wake cycle and can have periods of alertness.
The vegetative state is the stage in a flowering plant's life cycle before the appearance of its fruiting structures.
