Treatment efficacy of patients with minimally conscious state and persistent vegetative state: a comparative study

Abstract

Objective To investigate the differences in treatment efficacy of patients with minimally conscious state (MCS) and persistent vegetative state (PVS). Methods Fifty-six continuous coma patients after heavy head injury and severe brain hemorrhage, admitted to our hospital from February 2004 to March 2011,were chosen in our study; 23 of them diagnosed as having MCS,and other 33 as having PVS by internal diagnostic criteria. All patients were treated with new integrative drug treatment and integrative systematical treatment. PVS standard scale was employed to assess the effectiveness before treatment,and 1,3 and 5 courses after treatment in the 2 groups; and the differences of efficacy in MCS patients of different ages were compared. Results The scores of PVS standard scale in the patients with MCS were significantly higher than those in the patients with PVS at 3 and 5 courses after treatment (P＜0.05); the scores of PVS standard scale in the patients with MCS at 1,3 and 5 courses after treatment and patients with PVS 3 and 5 courses after treatment were obviously higher than those before treatment (P＜0.05); significant difference on the efficacy was noted between the 2 groups (P＜0.05); and mean rank test indicated that the treatment efficacy in patients with MCS was better than that in patients with PVS. The treatment efficacy in MCS patients of different ages was significantly different (P＜0.05); patients aged 18-29 enjoyed the best treatment efficacy,while patients aged over 50 enjoyed the worst treatment efficacy. Conclusion The treatment efficacy of patients with MCS is significantly better than that of patients with PVS; integrative systematically therapy is very important for patients with MCS and it can make the majority of patients get recover. Key words: Minimally conscious state; Persistent vegetative state; Treatment; Curative effect