17^th Annual Brain Death Congress

Coma vs. Brain Death

Individual in a state of coma is considered as alive, no matter how severe or prolonged. There is a chance to get back into the normal life for the coma patients as the patient is in reversible unconscious condition but brain continuously gives electrical impulse signal to rest of the body. In case of brain death patients, they are in irreversible unconscious condition i.e. complete and irreversible cessation. In case of vegetative state coma, the patient has recovered brain stem function but not higher cognitive abilities. If the vegetative state continues for more than one month then it is considered as persistent vegetative state which normally leads to brain death. Only in rare cases, patient with persistent vegetative coma state can recover full mental awareness.