Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome

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The authors of this retrospective study report the natural history of unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS), also known as vegetative state. They examined outcomes of 31 patients with UWS enrolled between 2012 and 2018 with a range from 1 month to 33 years after onset (mean, 3.5 years). A total of 6 patients were discharged from the hospital with a UWS diagnosis, and another 11 patients were diagnosed in a nursing home. A total of 6 patients emerged from UWS, whereas 18 patients died; 11 of these patients died within the first 2 years, and 9 patients died after withdrawal of hydration and nutrition tied to a new healthcare event.

This is an important natural history study regarding difficult and complex situations that involve navigating end-of-life care with family treatment decisions.