Recently, the North Korean leader was reported to be experiencing a vegetative state. This condition, which is said to be the same as a coma, is a medical condition that requires the monitoring of medical personnel. Then, what the hell the vegetative state?
The vegetative state is a chronic disorder of brain function. In this condition, the cerebrum or the part of the brain that controls behavior and thoughts no longer functions normally, but the hypothalamus and brainstem, the part of the brain that controls vital functions, can still function properly.
Vegetative Condition Different from Coma
Although often equated with a coma, the vegetative state is different from a coma, you know. In a coma, the patient will not be able to move, make a sound, let alone open his eyes and scream even though he has been pinched. In essence, a comatose patient is in a state of complete unconsciousness.
In contrast to comatose patients, vegetative patients can open their eyes. The patient's heart and lungs can function like healthy people. In addition, the patient also has a sleep cycle, has reflexes, and can blink, grunt, or appear to smile like a normal healthy person.
However, because the cerebrum is abnormal, sufferers of this condition cannot think, speak or respond to speech, interact with the environment, follow orders, and show emotions.
List of Causes of Vegetative Conditions
The vegetative state is caused by acute brain damage from disease or injury, which leaves the sufferer unconscious and unresponsive to his surroundings. Here is the explanation:
Nontraumatic brain injury
This type of brain injury can occur when a person's brain tissue suffers from a lack of oxygen or damage that is not caused by an external injury. Some of the causes include drug overdose, heart attack, meningitis, drowning, poisoning, and stroke.
Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury occurs when a person is subjected to a strong blow or blow to the head. This condition can be caused by a car accident, a fall from a height, an accident at work, or an assault that involves a fist fight and injures the head.
Progressive brain damage
Progressive brain damage is brain damage caused by conditions such as brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
If a person is in a vegetative state for more than 4 weeks, he will be considered to be in a continuous vegetative state (continuing vegetative state). However, if this condition continues for 6-12 months, the patient is declared to be in a permanent vegetative state (permanent vegetative state).
How to Overcome Vegetative Conditions
In fact, there is no definite treatment for this condition. The doctor may try to provide therapy in the form of electrical stimulation so that the patient's brain can be stimulated and the patient can "wake up". However, this therapy still needs to be studied further.
Priority care for vegetative patients includes nutritional intake, hygiene and support for general body functions. During treatment, the patient's body position needs to be changed regularly so that wounds do not form due to prolonged pressure on the skin (decubitus ulcers).
In addition, the patient's limbs also need to be moved regularly to prevent blood clots and muscle atrophy. The patient will also be placed on a catheter and diaper to facilitate urination and defecation.
Regardless of all that, the patient's progress will continue to be monitored regularly and carefully to look for any signs of recovery. Families are also advised to provide support and light stimulation to stimulate the five senses of the sufferer so that the sufferer can recover quickly.
The following are some of the stimulation that can be provided by the family:
- Keep the patient communicating as usual. The family can tell various things that may be related to the sufferer, such as what moments the sufferer has missed.
- Families can play the sufferer's favorite music or movies.
- Showing a variety of family photos can also be done to trigger a response.
- Stroking and holding the patient regularly.
- Provide fragrance in the room to stimulate the sense of smell.
Vegetative conditions can be experienced by anyone and at any time suddenly. The thing to remember is that this condition is different from brain stem death, so the patient still has a chance to recover, but it usually takes a long time.
However, this also does not rule out the patient's brain losing all its functions. Recovery is very dependent on the extent of the injury to the brain.
Therefore, it is very important for the family to discuss with the doctor the patient's condition, the treatment plan for the patient, where the patient should be treated, and what actions need to be taken if there is improvement or worsening in the patient's brain condition.
In some countries, patients who experience a vegetative state have the right to request euthanasia. However, this action is still not legally allowed in Indonesia.
