Medicinski vjesnik, Vol. 28 No. (1-4), 1996.
Professional paper
The coma vigile - a medical and social problem
Marko Rukovanjski
Ivan Hećimović
Abstract
The coma vigile, i.e . the “Permanent Vegetative State” (PVS) is a clinical condition of constant vegetative state due to traumatic or nontraumatic brain damage, or degenerative and metabolic brain disorders. It is characterized by open eyes, sleep-wake cycles and complete unawareness of one self or the environment. Due to the progress of the medicine and especially to improved medical care, the occurrence of PVS is becoming quite frequent and an increasing number of patients with PVS are hospitalized at neurosurgical and neurological departments and intensive care units. Up to now, the problem of care for the PVS patients in our country has not been solved permanently. The treatment and care for those cases can be performed in hospital conditions, only. The care at home is impossible in our circumstances. Therefore, the authors emphasize the need for special departments for PVS patients ’ care.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
192522
URI
Publication date:
1.12.1996.
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