Persistent vegetative state
A minimally conscious state (MCS) is a disorder of consciousness distinct from persistent vegetative state and locked in syndrome. Unlike persistent vegetative state, patients with MCS have partial preservation of conscious awareness.
MCS is a relatively new category of disorders of consciousness. The natural history and longer term outcome of MCS have not yet been thoroughly studied. The prevalence of MCS was estimated to be 112,000 to 280,000 in adult and pediatric cases.
Differential diagnosis
Case reports
Corazzol et al. report beneficial effects of vagus nerve stimulation on consciousness level of a single patient in a vegetative state, including improved behavioral responsiveness and enhanced brain connectivity patterns 1).
1)
Corazzol M, Lio G, Lefevre A, Deiana G, Tell L, André-Obadia N, Bourdillon P,
Guenot M, Desmurget M, Luauté J, Sirigu A. Restoring consciousness with vagus
nerve stimulation. Curr Biol. 2017 Sep 25;27(18):R994-R996. doi:
10.1016/j.cub.2017.07.060. PubMed PMID: 28950091.