Neurostimulation for patients in vegetative status.
Dorsal column stimulation has been used in four patients who were in a persistent vegetative state. There was improvement of the EEG in four patients and clinical improvement in three patients. Stimulation was for 12 hours per day at 100 Hz, 5 to 8 volts, and with a pulse width of 0.12 msec. The mechanism of improvement may involve changes in cerebral blood flow.
D000328:Adult; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D003128:Coma / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004824:Epidural Space; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors