REVIEWARTICLEvegetative state or death. These categories, i.e., the lack of recovery of the capacity for conscious awareness, represent states that for most individuals and families would not warrant continued high level ICU support. Other levels of survival, with preserved consciousness, are more difficult for management decisions. Conversely, the predictive values of tests for excellent outcomes need to be considered in any prognostic battery.A number of clinical algorithms have been developed, beginning with the seminal study of Levy et al. 9 These rely on the premise that severe brainstem dysfunction reflects even