Persistant vegetative state

A persistent vegetative state and a minimally conscious state are the severest forms of impairment of consciousness that can occur following a major craniocerebral injury or an oxygen deficiency in the brain. Those affected remain in a coma-like state and do not (or barely) react to their surroundings, yet their eyes are open for long periods of time.

In our ward for patients in a vegetative state, an interprofessional rehabilitation team works with patients using a multimodal treatment concept specialised for this group of patients.

Multimodal treatment concept

• Continuous medical support (in cooperation with the University Hospital of Basel [Universitätsspital Basel])
• Therapeutic care
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy following Bobath and Affolter’s techniques
• Early mobility using robotics
• Speech therapy (facial-oral tract therapy as developed by Kay Coombes, F.O.T.T.®)
• Music therapy
• Social counselling
• Integration and psychological support for family members

We treat our patients using innovative methods such as

• Neurofeedback
• Therapy with intrathecal baclofen pump
• Botox therapy
• Structured pharmacological treatment to encourage consciousness

Upon admission and to evaluate the progress achieved, we carry out rehabilitation-specific diagnostics (such as event-related potential P300). An assessment, developed here in Basel, measures the subtlest changes in consciousness.