title: Accuracy of diagnosis of persistent vegetative state.
abstract: We reviewed pre-admission diagnosis in all patients referred for inpatient brain injury neurorehabilitation over a 5-year period (n = 193). All patients more than 1 month postinjury with diagnosis of coma or persistent vegetative state were selected for review (n = 49). We found that 18 (37%) of these patients were diagnosed inaccurately. Inaccurate diagnosis was more likely if the injury was more than 3 months before admission and the etiology of injury was trauma (48%). Results were statistically significant when traumatic injuries were compared with anoxic injuries (p < 0.10). Errors in diagnosis may result from confusion in terminology, lack of extended observation of patients, and lack of skill or training in the assessment of neurologically devastated patients.
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Rehabilitation Center, Austin, TX 78745.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Childs
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Childs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged