OUTCOME OF CHILDREN WITH PROLONGED UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND VEGETATIVE STATES

The outcomes of 60 children unconscious for 90 days or longer followin g acquired brain injury are reported. Eight children who died had rema ined in persistent vegetative states. As expected, most neurologic imp rovement occurred within the first year after injury, although some de layed improvements were observed. Outcomes were strongly correlated wi th causes of brain injury. Better cognitive and motor function was obs erved with nonanoxic injuries. No child in this report with anoxic bra in injury regained functional cognitive or motor skills, although 3 be came socially responsive. The remarkable contrast with adults followin g acquired brain injury is the significantly longer survival of childr en. The only children who died had remained in persistent vegetative s tates.