In many situations, the decision to take a patient off life support or stop life sustaining treatment co-insides with not only the patients expected quality of life, but also their level of consciousness. Altered states of consciousness often are the result of either a traumatic head injury or an underlying illness such as diabetes, infection, stroke, or brain tumor. There are a few different levels of state of consciousness.
A patient being described as in a stupor is generally unresponsive, yet they may arouse briefly to painful stimuli.
A patient in a vegetative state is unconscious and unaware of their surroundings. Sleep/wake cycles are noted and the patient may appear alert (eyes open), make noises, and have random movements, but remain unresponsive to stimuli and fail to follow any commands. A patient may come out of either a stupor or vegetative state within a few weeks.
A persistent vegetative state is defined as a patient who is in a vegetative state for greater then thirty days. The likelihood of recovery is poor and greatly depends on the severity of the cause brain damage and age. The younger a patient is the more likely they may recover.
Another altered state of consciousness is locked in syndrome. The patient is one hundred percent awake and aware but is unable to move due to complete paralysis.
Brain death results when there is no sign of brain function. The test generally run to show signs of brain death is an EEG (electroencephalograph).
Coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness in which the brain functions at its lowest level. The patient is unable to be awakened and shows no purposeful response to physical or verbal stimuli. It differs from vegetative states in that a patient in a coma has no notable sleep/wake cycles. Recovery depends on severity of injury and illness and rarely lasts longer then two weeks.
It is difficult for doctors and medical professionals to give families a 100% prognosis in determining if their loved ones will recover. This often leads to families to have to make a difficult decision. Should they hold on hope for a full recovery if any recovery can be made, or should they let them go?
References
Mayo Clinic Staff. Coma. Mayo Clinic.com. 17 May 2006. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coma/DS00724/DSECTION=1>. 11 February 2007.
A patient being described as in a stupor is generally unresponsive, yet they may arouse briefly to painful stimuli.
A patient in a vegetative state is unconscious and unaware of their surroundings. Sleep/wake cycles are noted and the patient may appear alert (eyes open), make noises, and have random movements, but remain unresponsive to stimuli and fail to follow any commands. A patient may come out of either a stupor or vegetative state within a few weeks.
A persistent vegetative state is defined as a patient who is in a vegetative state for greater then thirty days. The likelihood of recovery is poor and greatly depends on the severity of the cause brain damage and age. The younger a patient is the more likely they may recover.
Another altered state of consciousness is locked in syndrome. The patient is one hundred percent awake and aware but is unable to move due to complete paralysis.
Brain death results when there is no sign of brain function. The test generally run to show signs of brain death is an EEG (electroencephalograph).
Coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness in which the brain functions at its lowest level. The patient is unable to be awakened and shows no purposeful response to physical or verbal stimuli. It differs from vegetative states in that a patient in a coma has no notable sleep/wake cycles. Recovery depends on severity of injury and illness and rarely lasts longer then two weeks.
It is difficult for doctors and medical professionals to give families a 100% prognosis in determining if their loved ones will recover. This often leads to families to have to make a difficult decision. Should they hold on hope for a full recovery if any recovery can be made, or should they let them go?
References
Mayo Clinic Staff. Coma. Mayo Clinic.com. 17 May 2006. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coma/DS00724/DSECTION=1>. 11 February 2007.
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3 comments:
Being in the nursing field also, i really can't wait to read more into your subject. It always has interested me but with you , you have a different view you get to see it first hand. You also have to deal with it, so you will be able to have a more personal interaction with it all.
Despite my lack of medical knowledge I still find myself interested in your posts. The facts tend to jump out at me. Nice research.
I have to admit, I don't know much about your subject, but you make it so interesting. I hadn't even realized that their was such a thing as locked in syndrome. That is horrifying, but something people should probably know about. I hope I am never in a situation that requires me to make a decision weather someone should live or die. Although, if it was me, I would want to die if I had locked in syndrome. The fact that I know what is going on and I can't even respond, would drive me crazy!
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