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HM-PAO-SPECT in persistent vegetative state after head injury: Prognostic indicator of the likelihood of recovery?

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Abstract

Management of patients presenting with traumatic persistent vegetative state (PVS) calls for extensive resources. The ability to predict whether or not a patient is likely to recover is a critical issue. In 12 patients with PVS admitted consecutively for early rehabilitation after head injury, pattern of brain activity was measured by99mTc-hexamethyl-propylenamineoxime (99mTc-HM-PAO) brain SPECT (single photon emission computer tomography). All patients were re-investigated after a mean observation period of 3 years. A global reduction of cortical blood flow was a reliable predictor of poor longterm outcome, but the demonstration of only focal deficits did not reliably indicate a favourable outcome. Brain SPECT may help to improve outcome prediction in patients with traumatic PVS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurological Clinic, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    W. Oder, G. Goldenberg, I. Podreka & L. Deecke

  2. Neurologische Universitätsklinik, Lazarettgasse 14, A-1090, Wien, Austria

    W. Oder

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  1. W. Oder
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  2. G. Goldenberg
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  3. I. Podreka
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  4. L. Deecke
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Oder, W., Goldenberg, G., Podreka, I. et al. HM-PAO-SPECT in persistent vegetative state after head injury: Prognostic indicator of the likelihood of recovery?. Intensive Care Med 17, 149–153 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01704718

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01704718

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