Car crash victim trapped in 'coma' for 23 years was allegedly conscious...

[Mayareira]

Paralysed patient could not move or communicate with doctors until Belgian neurologist tested new brain scanner

For 23 years Rom Houben was trapped in his own body, unable to communicate with his doctors or family. They presumed he was in a vegetative state following a near-fatal car crash in 1983.

But then doctors used a state-of-the-art scanning system on the brain of the martial arts enthusiast, which showed it was functioning almost normally.

"I had dreamed myself away," said Houben, now 46, whose real "state" was discovered three years ago and has just been made public by the doctor who rescued him.

Steven Laureys, a neurologist at the University of Liège in Belgium, has published a scientific paper saying Houben could be one of many falsely diagnosed coma cases around the world.

Houben is being cared for at a facility near Brussels and now communicates via a computer with a special keyboard activated with his right hand, which is capable of minimal movement. He said his body was paralysed when he came round after his accident. Although he could hear every word his doctors spoke, he could not communicate with them.

"I screamed, but there was nothing to hear," he said, via his keyboard.

Houben then suffered years of being effectively trapped in his own body as care personnel and doctors at the hospital in Zolder tried to communicate with him, but eventually gave up hope that he would ever come round.

The moment it was discovered he was not in a vegetative state, said Houben, it was like being born again. "I'll never forget the day that they discovered me, it was my second birth."

Experts say Laureys' findings are likely to reopen the debate over when the decision should be made to terminate the lives of those in comas who appear to be unconscious but might have almost fully-functioning brains.

Belgian doctors used an internationally accepted scale to monitor Houben's state over the years. Known as the Glasgow Coma Scale, it requires assessment of the eyes, verbal and motor responses. But they failed to assess him correctly and missed signs that his brain was still functioning.

Laureys, who is head of the coma science group and neurology department at Liège University hospital, concluded coma patients are diagnosed falsely "on a disturbingly regular basis". In around 40% of cases diagnosed as vegetative, more careful examination shows there is still some level of consciousness. He examined 44 patients believed to be in a vegetative state, and found that 18 of them responded to communication.

"Once someone is labelled as being without consciousness, it is very hard to get rid of that," he told Spiegel magazine, calling for a systematic overhaul of the methods of diagnosis.

Laureys said patients who are not fully unconscious can often be treated and are capable of making considerable progress.

Around a fifth of patients who suffer serious head and brain injuries spend more than three weeks in a coma. Of those, between 15% and 25% are, technically speaking, still alive but remain in a state of unconsciousness, never to wake up.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009...-coma-23-years

[Chun Liroy]

Just read this article on Yahoo, found it very interesting to say the least. Also reminded me of that house episode lulz.

Edit: I'm also interested in hearing how it felt (Besides the what he has already stated). 23 years of being limited to staring at walls inside a hospital must be boring as fuck. I'm sure he'll write a book and get lots of moniez.

[Diamicles]

Wonder how many of these people have had the plug pulled because they were in a coma for X number of years.

[Gunitsoldier]

Just read this article on Yahoo, found it very interesting to say the least. Also reminded me of that house episode lulz.

http://thetvlegion.com/wp-content/up...ouse_s5e19.jpg

[Mizango]

Oh wow, that is a really neat read. I cant imagine being trapped inside and not being able to communicate, all while putting years and years worth of effort into it.

Having to hear everything but not be able to do shit has got to be the most lonely feeling one could possible endure. Just wow.

[Mizango]

Looks like Papa Justify is still doin' work.

[_chuchu]

Well, they should have had some mercy for the man by pulling the plug so he wouldn't have a chance at ever seeing Twilight

[Jotaru]

Maybe I missed it, but has he semi-recovered now, or is he still completely paralyzed except for his minimal motor movement in his hands?

I'd still argue for being able to put myself out of my misery if that were the state I were in.

[Pikarya]

Weird. Good read, not to savvy about comas and such so its interesting.

[Mizango]

That is a long time to just be "there".

[_chuchu]

That is a long time to just be "there".

you make it sound like a chore/kids

[Stilzkin]

So did he end up crazy?

[Chun Liroy]

Oshi- I completely forgot about tests they do on coma patients occasionally... Imagine having to endure a radical new test and going through a great deal of pain, yet noone can hear you scream and you can't do anything about it.

[Ksandra]

omg that's so crazy

[Day]

Holy shit. That sounds like the worst nightmare ever.

[Day]

Oh wow, that is a really neat read. I cant imagine being trapped inside and not being able to communicate, all while putting years and years worth of effort into it.

Having to hear everything but not be able to do shit has got to be the most lonely feeling one could possible endure. Just wow.

neat lol

[Pikarya]

This reminds me of something I remember watching in college. Where a certain % of people that are put to sleep during a surgery withdraw the sedation, and are set in a similar "state".

The patients are completely awake in their own aspect, but feel the pain of the surgery occurring, but they cannot do anything within their volition like move. Forgot what the medical term for it is or w/e but its really scary shit lol.

[Chun Liroy]

This reminds me of something I remember watching in college. Where a certain % of people that are put to sleep during a surgery withdraw the sedation, and are set in a similar "state".

The patients are completely awake in their own aspect, but feel the pain of the surgery occurring, but they cannot do anything within their volition like move. Forgot what the medical term for it is or w/e but its really scary shit lol.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anesthesia_awareness

Several studies have indicated this is a rare phenomenon, with rates varying from 0.13% [8] to as low as 0.0068%[9]. The modified patient interview used in this retrospective study did not specifically ask the patient if he/she had experienced awareness during the surgery.

I read a different article that said it was 1%, so w/e.

[Eliseos]

Maybe I missed it, but has he semi-recovered now, or is he still completely paralyzed except for his minimal motor movement in his hands?

I'd still argue for being able to put myself out of my misery if that were the state I were in.

From what I heard on the radio today, he is still paralyzed. He has a device above his bed that will allow him to read books, but he has to tap on a keyboard to communicate.

[Pirian]

Holy shit. That sounds like the worst nightmare ever.

This.