A Method for Estimation of the Life Expectancy for the Persistent Vegetative State and Minimally Conscious State after Craniocerebral Trauma in Korea

Jae-Hyun Shim; Kyeong-Seok Lee; Ra-Sun Kim; Jae-Won Doh; Il-Gyu Yun; Hack-Gun Bae

doi:10.13004/jknts.2010.6.2.110

Journal List > J Korean Neurotraumatol Soc > v.6(2) > 1097518

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Shim, Lee, Kim, Doh, Yun, and Bae: A Method for Estimation of the Life Expectancy for the Persistent Vegetative State and Minimally Conscious State after Craniocerebral Trauma in Korea

Clinical Article

Journal of Korean Neurotraumatology Society 2010; 6(2): 110-115.

Published online: 31 December 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13004/jknts.2010.6.2.110

A Method for Estimation of the Life Expectancy for the Persistent Vegetative State and Minimally Conscious State after Craniocerebral Trauma in Korea

Jae-Hyun Shim, MD, Kyeong-Seok Lee, MD, Ra-Sun Kim, MD, Jae-Won Doh, MD, Il-Gyu Yun, MD, Hack-Gun Bae, MD

Department of Neurosurgery, Chonan Hospital, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Chonan, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Kyeong-Seok Lee, MD. Department of Neurosurgery, Chonan Hospital, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, 8 Sooncheonhyang 2-gil, Dongnam-gu, Chonan 330-721, Korea. Tel: +82-41-570-3652, Fax: +82-41-572-9297, kslshl@schmc.ac.kr

Received 10 October 2010 Revised 12 October 2010 Accepted 6 November 2010

Abstract

Objective

Estimation of the life expectancy (LE) for patients in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) or minimally conscious state (MCS) depends on the statistical probability. Since the statistics of LE increases year by year, we should update the ratio of expected life spans based on the recent data.

Methods

We searched recent (after January 2000 to June 2010) articles on the LE and PVS using PubMed. We excluded letters or comments. Using data from the literature review and the life table of Korean National Statistical Office, we proposed a scheme estimating the LE for PVS and MCS patients after head injuries.

Results

There were three papers on the mortality or LE of PVS or MCS patients. To diagnose PVS and MCS correctly, we should use the revised coma recovery scale. The reported LE of PVS and MCS patients was longer than when the Lee's scheme was applied. The ratio of LE would be 10-25% for PVS, 20-40% for MCS fed by others, and 40-70% for MCS self fed.

Conclusion

We reviewed diagnostic criteria for the PVS and MCS. For updated estimation of the individual LE for PVS or MCS, we proposed a method based on the recent data from the literature review.

Keywords: Life expectancy, Mortality, Persistent vegetative state, Craniocerebral trauma

Figures and Tables

FIGURE 1

Life expectancy of the PVS. PVS: persistent vegetative state, CLE: calculated life expectancy, mCLE: mean calculated life expectancy, M: male, F: female.

FIGURE 2

Life expectancy of the MCS, fed by others. MCS: mi-nimally conscious state, CLE: calculated life expectancy, m-CLE: mean calculated life expectancy, M: male, F: female.

FIGURE 3

Life expectancy of the MCS, self fed. MCS: minimally conscious state, CLE: calculated life expectancy, mCLE: mean calculated life expectancy, M: male, F: female.

TABLE 1

JFK coma recovery scale-revised8)

TABLE 2

Summary of the recent reports on PVS or MCS

PVS: persistent vegetative state, MCS: minimally conscious state

TABLE 3

Estimated ratio of life expectancy of the PVS and MCS

^*: Intelligence, Rolling, and Hand use. PVS: persistent vegetative state, MCS: minimally conscious state

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