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| Life expectancy of children in vegetative and minimally conscious states |
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| Author(s): Strauss DJ, Ashwal S, Day SM, Shavelle RM |
| Source: PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Pages: 312-319 Published: OCT 2000 |
| Times Cited: 18 References: 53 |
| Abstract: We determined estimates of survival in children, 3-15 years of age, in the vegetative state (VS) (n = 564), immobile minimally conscious state (MCS) (n = 705), and mobile MCS (n = 3,806), Data were extracted from the annual Client Development Evaluation Reports of the California Department of Developmental Services between 1988 and 1997 using the operational definitions for these three states on the basis of 15 descriptive behavioral categories. Patients were also categorized according to the following four etiologies: acquired (traumatic and nontraumatic) brain injury; perinatal/genetic; degenerative; and unknown/undetermined, The percentage of patients surviving 8 Sears was 63%, 65%, and 81%, for the VS, immobile MCS, and mobile MCS, respectively. Children in the VS and MCSs with acquired brain injury had lower mortality rates and those with degenerative diseases the highest mortality rates. We observed little difference in survival between patients in the VS and immobile MCS, suggesting that the presence of consciousness is not a critical variable in determining life expectancy. Furthermore, survival was much greater for patients in the mobile MCS than for those in the immobile MCS, suggesting that mobility is more important in predicting survival than the level of consciousness. (C) 2000 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. |
| Document Type: Article |
| Language: English |
| Reprint Address: Ashwal, S (reprint author), Loma Linda Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pediat, 11175 Campus St,Coleman Pavil, Loma Linda, CA 92350 USA |
Addresses:
1. Loma Linda Univ, Sch Med, Dept Pediat, Loma Linda, CA 92350 USA
2. Univ Calif Riverside, Dept Stat, Riverside, CA 92521 USA |
| Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC, 655 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY 10010 USA |
| Subject Category: Clinical Neurology; Pediatrics |
| IDS Number: 372FQ |
| ISSN: 0887-8994 |
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