brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Vegetative State
Diagnosis of Vegetative State
A doctor's evaluation Tests such as magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography Doctors suspect a vegetative state based on symptoms. However, before a vegetative state can be diagnosed, people should be observed for a period of time and on more than one occasion. If people are not observed long enough, evidence of awareness may be missed. People who have some awareness may be in a Minimally Conscious State rather than a vegetative state. An imaging test, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), is done to check for disorders that may be causing the problem, especially those that can be treated. If the diagnosis is in doubt, doctors may do other imaging tests— Positron Emission Tomography (PET) (PET) or Electroencephalography (EEG) may be done to check for abnormalities in the brain's electrical activity that suggest seizures, which may impair consciousness. Functional MRI (fMRI) may be done to check for brain activity and thus determine whether awareness is completely impaired. This test can detect when a person responds to questions and commands, even when the response is not apparent—that is, when the person does not speak or move in response (covert consciousness). EEG can also detect this brain activity. The results of these tests can affect decisions about long-term care. 