Care protocol for persistent vegetative states (PVS) and minimally conscious state (MSC) in Lorraine: retrospective study over an 18-year period.
OBJECTIVE
Retrospective analysis of the efficiency of a protocol for care of chronic vegetative states (CVS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) in Lorraine.


METHODS
Two indicators are used: protocol activity (number of patients hospitalized between 1988 and 2006, number of admissions per year, of requests per year, origin of requests, waiting time) and the epidemiological data (age, sex ratio, etiology, length of stay, geographic origin, number of deaths, number of hospital discharges). The number of CVS and MCS and patients having progressed towards arousal is specified as well as the technical procedures (orthopedic surgery, number of tracheotomies).


RESULTS
Forty-seven patients (30 males and 17 females) were hospitalized in a 12-bed unit. The number of admissions per year was 2.4, and the annual number of requests varied between five and 15. Hospitalization times ranged from six to 18 months. The average length of hospitalization was 41 months. Eighty-eight percent of the cases were residents of Lorraine. The etiology was traumatic (53%), vascular (38% including 12% anoxia), miscellaneous (9%). Fifteen percent rate of return to arousal (average time period: 28.41 months, traumatic etiology) with hospital discharge in four cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The protocol is managed as part of a local scheme and enables an appropriate response to a specific clinical profile by providing up-to-date multidiscipline follow-up care and a rapid solution should intercurrent events occur (signs of arousal, orthopedic deterioration, change of environment). Typical limitations are geographical remoteness and difficulties with family support care.
Beis
J-M
JM
Centre de médecine physique et de réadaptation, institut régional de médecine physique et de réadaptation, Lay-Saint-Christophe, France. jeanmarie.beis@irr.u-nancy.fr
Seyer
J-L
JL
Brugerolle
B
B
Le Chapelain
L
L
Thisse
M-O
MO
Mainard
D
D
Paysant
J
J
André
J-M
JM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult