Neurosurgery Blog: Causes and Outcomes of Persistent Vegetative State in a Chinese Versus American Referral Hospital

Abstract

Objective

To compare the etiologies and clinical outcomes of patients in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) between a Chinese and US referral hospital.

Methods

A retrospective, observational study at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, China and Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA (2001–2010) was performed.

Results

There were 36 cases of PVS diagnosed. In Beijing, there were 19 cases: mean age 57 years, range 3–86, (42 %) female, with 37 % of patients observed to survive more than 1 year (range >1 month to >28 years, median >6 months). Causes of PVS in Beijing were hemorrhagic stroke (n = 4, 21 %), ischemic stroke (n = 2, 11 %), cardiac arrest (n = 5, 26 %, including 4 with attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)), traumatic brain injury (n = 3, 16 %), and one each of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, and epilepsy with craniopharyngioma (n = 4, 21 %).

In Baltimore, there were 17 cases of PVS: mean age 43 years, range 15–83, 59 % female, with 41 % observed to survive more than 1 year (range >1 month to >10 years, median >3 years). Causes of PVS in Baltimore were ischemic stroke (n = 3, 18 %), cardiac arrest (n = 3, 18 %, including one with attempted CPR), traumatic brain injury (n = 3, 18 %), neurodegenerative conditions (n = 2, 12 %), and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy due to respiratory arrest (n = 3, 18 %), metabolic derangements (n = 2, 12 %), and meningitis (n = 1, 6 %).

Conclusions

There may be a long survival period for patients with PVS, including in China where resource constraints exist for acute neurologic care. Stroke appears to be the most common underlying cause of PVS in Chinese patients, followed closely by cardiac arrest with attempted CPR. There appear to be more varied causes of PVS in the US referral hospital with a predominance of stroke, cardiac arrest, and traumatic brain injury.

Content Type Journal Article
Category Neurocritcal Care Worldwide
Pages 1-5
DOI 10.1007/s12028-012-9789-7
Authors
- Farrah J. Mateen, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Room E8527, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Jing-Wen Niu, Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shuaifuyuan 1, Beijing, China
- Shan Gao, Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shuaifuyuan 1, Beijing, China
- Shun-Wei Li, Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shuaifuyuan 1, Beijing, China
- Marco Carone, Division of Biostatistics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Eelco F. M. Wijdicks, Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Wei-Hai Xu, Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shuaifuyuan 1, Beijing, China