Elainera
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Otto Warmbier: What is Unresponsive Wakefulness Syndrome? Can he recover?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...akefulness-syndrome-can-he-recover/403475001/
Patients in a vegetative state are awake, but show no signs of awareness. They may be able to open their eyes, have basic reflexes to actions, and wake up or fall asleep at various intervals. UWS patients are also able to breathe without mechanical assistance, while maintaining a regular heartbeat.
The amount of communication and cognitive mechanisms is limited with UWS. Patients might be able to swallow, grunt, smile, or moan without any external stimulus. They are also unable to obey verbal commands.
He can open his eyes and blink. But he does not appear to understand language and does not answer commands. His arms and legs have atrophied.
Will he recover? The chances of recovery are dependent on the nature of the injury to the brain and the age of the patient. Recovering from UWS is a long process that could involve medicine, physical therapy or even surgery.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...akefulness-syndrome-can-he-recover/403475001/