Neurological Prognostication After Cardiac Arrest in the Era of Target Temperature Management

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this study is to provide an updated review on neurological prognostication in comatose patients after cardiac arrest in light of current targeted temperature management (TTM) strategies.Recent FindingsWith improved pre-hospital and hospital care, death due to cardiac arrest is decreasing. Yet, most survivors have poor neurological outcomes. While TTM has demonstrated to improve neurological outcomes, it may cloud our prognostic accuracy. A multimodal approach is currently used to diminish prognostic uncertainty.SummaryThe neurological examination remains the mainstay for prognosis after cardiac arrest. The combination electroencephalogram, somatosensory evoked potentials, and neuron-specific enolase improve prognostic accuracy, mostly in patients who underwent TTM. Quantitative analysis of pupillary reaction and EEG background variability, neuroimaging (CT perfusion and DWI-MRI), and middle/long-latency evoked potentials are promising methods that may further improve the precision of outcome prognostication.

Source: Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports - February 9, 2019 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research