Journal of Palliative Medicine · 2011 · 19 citations · 8 references
MedicineNeurologyPalliative CarePalliative Care PharmacotherapyPalliative MedicineRecovery After Brain InjuryTraumatic Brain InjuryAutonomic Dysfunction After Brain InjuryParoxysmal Sympathetic HyperactivityPermanent Vegetative StatePersistent Vegetative StateSympathetic Nervous System DysfunctionSympathetic Nervous System InvolvementSympathetic Nervous System PhysiologySympathetic Nervous System Responses
BACKGROUND: There are many people living in a permanent vegetative state in the United States. We report the first case of a patient in permanent vegetative state (PVS) who developed paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (sympathetic storm) 8 months after the hypoxic brain injury that lead to PVS. DISCUSSION: Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity is a relatively common complication early in the course of traumatic brain injury. Recognition of the clinical presentation of this syndrome is important to palliative and hospice care providers who may be caring for patients with PVS. The treatment of sympathic hyperactivity to reduce potential physical suffering includes medications targeted to the sympathetic nervous system.
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Cortical Processing of Noxious Somatosensory Stimuli in the Persistent Vegetative State
Steven Laureys, M. E. Faymonville, Philippe Peigneux et al. · NeuroImage · 2002 · 422 citations