Unresponsive waking syndrome: results of a vicious cycle. Ann Neurol.
van Erp, W.S., Lavrijsen, J.C.M., Vos. P.E., Laureys, S., & Koopmans, R.T.C.M.
1 January 2020Introduction
Unresponsive waking syndrome (UWS), also known as the vegetative state (VS), is one of the most dramatic consequences of acquired brain injury. Despite spontaneous eye openings and independent vital signs, VS/UWS patients are unable to communicate their thoughts or feelings functionally and appear to be completely unaware of their surroundings and themselves.1,2 VS/UWS has been confronting families, clinicians, society, and science with a variety of clinical and ethical quests and dilemmas for >50 years.