Recovery of consciousness after 7 years in vegetative state of non-traumatic origin: A single case study

To report consistent recovery of consciousness to a state of severe disability in a young patient after 7 years in vegetative state due to severe acquired brain injury, with reflections on protraction of intensive care and expert follow-up for the purpose of intercepting possible, albeit infrequent, cases of late recovery of consciousness.

Single case study Methods: This study describes the 9-year history of a healthy 15-year-old who suffered cerebellar haemorrhage due to rupture of an arteriovenous malformation, followed by a brief period of coma then protracted vegetative state; late stabilization of general condition with resolution of neurosurgical complications. Clinical monitoring employed scales for structured assessment of severe disability and disorders of consciousness.

The transition from vegetative state to full consciousness occurred over a period of ~ 3 months, 7 years after onset. In the subsequent 2 years the patient has shown slow but progressive overall improvement in a framework of severe residual motor and cognitive disability.

Cases of recovery of consciousness after periods of vegetative state exceeding 1 year are rare, but remind one that a negative prognosis decided too early may be a self-fulfilling forecast.