Pediatric vegetative state: epidemiological and clinical issues.

The vegetative state (VS), a state of wakefulness without awareness, has been well recognized in children despite the fact that little descriptive information has been published [3,14,21,38]. This review will focus on our current understanding of VS from a pediatric and medical perspective. Information concerning etiology, epidemiology, clinical course, and most importantly, potential for recovery of consciousness and function as well as long-term survival of these patients will be discussed. Much of the information contained in this review is based on the deliberations of the Multi-Society Task Force on the Persistent Vegetative State [38].