Post-cardiac arrest intensive care in Sweden: A survey of current clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: European guidelines recommend targeted temperature management (TTM) in post-cardiac arrest care. A large multicentre clinical trial, however, showed no difference in mortality and neurological outcome when comparing hypothermia to normothermia with early treatment of fever. The study results were valid given a strict protocol for the assessment of prognosis using defined neurological examinations. With the current range of recommended TTM temperatures, and applicable neurological examinations, procedures may differ between hospitals and the variation of clinical practice in Sweden is not known. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate current practice in post-resuscitation care after cardiac arrest as to temperature targets and assessment of neurological prognosis in Swedish intensive care units (ICUs). METHODS: A structured survey was conducted by telephone or e-mail in all Levels 2 and 3 (= 53) Swedish ICUs during the spring of 2022 with a secondary survey in April 2023. RESULTS: Five units were not providing post-cardiac arrest care and were excluded. The response rate was 43/48 (90%) of the eligible units. Among the responding ICUs, normothermia (36-37.7°C) was applied in all centres (2023). There was a detailed routine for the assessment of neurological prognosis in 38/43 (88%) ICUs. Neurological assessment was applied 72-96 h after return of spontaneous circulation in 32/38 (84%) units. Electroencephalogram and computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging were the most common technical methods available. CONCLUSION: Swedish ICUs use normothermia including early treatment of fever in post-resuscitation care after cardiac arrest and almost all apply a detailed routine for the assessment of neurological prognosis. However, available methods for prognostic evaluation varies between hospitals.

External validation of the PROLOGUE score to predict neurological outcome in adult patients after cardiac arrest: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The PROLOGUE score (PROgnostication using LOGistic regression model for Unselected adult cardiac arrest patients in the Early stages) is a novel prognostic model for the prediction of neurological outcome after cardiac arrest, which showed exceptional performance in the internal validation. The aim of this study is to validate the PROLOGUE score in an independent cohort of unselected adult cardiac arrest patients and to compare it to the thoroughly validated Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) and Cardiac Arrest Hospital Prognosis (CAHP) scores. METHODS: This study included consecutive adult cardiac arrest patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Swiss tertiary teaching hospital between October 2012 and July 2022. The primary endpoint was poor neurological outcome at hospital discharge, defined as a Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score of 3 to 5 including death. RESULTS: Of 687 patients included in the analysis, 321 (46.7%) survived to hospital discharge with good neurological outcome, 68 (9.9%) survived with poor neurological outcome and 298 (43.4%) died. The PROLOGUE score showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.83 (95% CI 0.80 to 0.86) and good calibration for the prediction of the primary outcome. The OHCA and CAHP score showed similar performance (AUROC 0.83 and 0.84 respectively), the differences between the three scores were not significant (p = 0.495). In a subgroup analysis, the PROLOGUE score performed equally in out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrest patients whereas the OHCA and CAHP score performed significantly better in OHCA patients. CONCLUSION: The PROLOGUE score showed good prognostic accuracy for the early prediction of neurological outcome in adult cardiac arrest survivors in our cohort and might support early goals-of-care discussions in the ICU. Trial registration Not applicable.

Factors Associated with Early Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatments After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Subanalysis of a Randomized Trial of Prehospital Therapeutic Hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to describe incidence and factors associated with early withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies based on presumed poor neurologic prognosis (WLST-N) and practices around multimodal prognostication after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). METHODS: We performed a subanalysis of a randomized controlled trial assessing prehospital therapeutic hypothermia in adult patients admitted to nine hospitals in King County with nontraumatic OHCA between 2007 and 2012. Patients who underwent tracheal intubation and were unconscious following return of spontaneous circulation were included. Our outcomes were (1) incidence of early WLST-N (WLST-N within < 72 h from return of spontaneous circulation), (2) factors associated with early WLST-N compared with patients who remained comatose at 72 h without WLST-N, (3) institutional variation in early WLST-N, (4) use of multimodal prognostication, and (5) use of sedative medications in patients with early WLST-N. Analysis included descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: We included 1,040 patients (mean age was 65 years, 37% were female, 41% were White, and 44% presented with arrest due to ventricular fibrillation) admitted to nine hospitals. Early WLST-N accounted for 24% (n = 154) of patient deaths and occurred in half (51%) of patients with WLST-N. Factors associated with early WLST-N in multivariate regressions were older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.03), preexisting do-not-attempt-resuscitation orders (OR 4.67, 95% CI: 1.55-14.01), bilateral absent pupillary reflexes (OR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.42-4.10), and lack of neurological consultation (OR 2.60, 95% CI: 1.52-4.46). The proportion of patients with early WLST-N among all OHCA admissions ranged from 19-60% between institutions. A head computed tomography scan was obtained in 54% (n = 84) of patients with early WLST-N; 22% (n = 34) and 5% (n = 8) underwent ≥ 1 and ≥ 2 additional prognostic tests, respectively. Prognostic tests were more frequently performed when neurological consultation occurred. Most patients received sedating medications (90%) within 24 h before early WLST-N; the median time from last sedation to early WLST-N was 4.2 h (interquartile range 0.4-15). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one quarter of deaths after OHCA were due to early WLST-N. The presence of concerning neurological examination findings appeared to impact early WLST-N decisions, even though these are not fully reliable in this time frame. Lack of neurological consultation was associated with early WLST-N and resulted in underuse of guideline-concordant multimodal prognostication. Sedating medications were often coadministered prior to early WLST-N and may have further confounded the neurological examination. Standardizing prognostication, restricting early WLST-N, and a multidisciplinary approach including neurological consultation might improve outcomes after OHCA.

Índice biespectral y tasa de supresión tras parada cardiaca: ¿son útiles para individualizar planes de escalada terapéutica? / Bispectral index and suppression ratio after cardiac arrest: are they useful as bedside tools for rational treatment escalation plans?

Introducción y objetivos: La disfunción miocárdica contribuye a la mortalidad precoz (24-72 horas) de los supervivientes de parada cardiaca (PC). Actualmente, la decisión de implantar un dispositivo de soporte circulatorio en este contexto se toma con información limitada acerca del potencial de recuperación neurológica (PRN) del paciente, lo que en muchas ocasiones termina en infratratamiento. Por tanto, requerimos de herramientas accesibles y fiables que añadan información sobre el PRN y ayuden a establecer planes individualizados de escalada terapéutica. Métodos: Se recogieron valores de índice biespectral (BIS) y tasa de supresión (TS) en supervivientes de una PC sometidos a control de la temperatura corporal. La función neurológica se evaluó con la escala Cerebral Performance Category (CPC). Resultados: Se incluyeron 340 pacientes. En la primera evaluación neurológica completa, 211 (62,1%) alcanzaron buen pronóstico (CPC 1-2). Los valores de BIS fueron significativamente mayores y los de TS menores, en pacientes con CPC 1-2. Un BIS promedio> 26 en las primeras 12 horas predijo buena evolución neurológica (sensibilidad 89,5%; especificidad 75,8%; AUC=0,869), mientras que una TS promedio> 24 en las primeras 12 horas predijo mala evolución o CPC 3-5 (sensibilidad 91,5%; especificidad 81,8%; AUC=0,906). Los valores horarios de BIS/TS mostraron buena capacidad predictiva (AUC> 0,85) desde la 2.a hora para TS y 4.a para BIS. Conclusiones: El BIS/TS permiten estimar el PRN tras una PC. Este hallazgo puede contribuir a crear conciencia con respecto a evitar la limitación de escalada terapéutica en pacientes potencialmente recuperables.(AU)

Introduction and objectives: Myocardial dysfunction contributes to early mortality (24-72 hours) among survivors of a cardiac arrest (CA). The benefits of mechanical support in refractory shock should be balanced against the patient's potential for neurological recovery. To date, these early treatment decisions have been taken based on limited information leading mainly to undertreatment. Therefore, there is a need for early, reliable, accessible, and simple tools that offer information on the possibilities of neurological improvement. Methods: We collected data from bispectral index (BIS) and suppression ratio (SR) monitoring of adult comatose survivors of CA managed with targeted temperature management (TTM). Neurological status was assessed according to the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale. Results: We included 340 patients. At the first full neurological evaluation, 211 patients (62.1%) achieved good outcome or CPC 1-2. Mean BIS values were significantly higher and median SR lower in patients with CPC 1-2. An average BIS> 26 during first 12hours of TTM predicted good outcome with 89.5% sensitivity and 75.8% specificity (AUC of 0.869), while average SR values> 24 during the first 12hours of TTM predicted poor outcome (CPC 3-5) with 91.5% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity (AUC, 0.906). Hourly BIS and SR values exhibited good predictive performance (AUC> 0.85), as soon as hour 2 for SR and hour 4 for BIS. Conclusions: BIS/SR are associated with patients’ potential for neurological recovery after CA. This finding could help to create awareness of the possibility of a better outcome in patients who might otherwise be wrongly considered as nonviable and to establish personalized treatment escalation plans.(AU)

Bispectral index and suppression ratio after cardiac arrest: are they useful as bedside tools for rational treatment escalation plans?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Myocardial dysfunction contributes to early mortality (24-72 hours) among survivors of a cardiac arrest (CA). The benefits of mechanical support in refractory shock should be balanced against the patient's potential for neurological recovery. To date, these early treatment decisions have been taken based on limited information leading mainly to undertreatment. Therefore, there is a need for early, reliable, accessible, and simple tools that offer information on the possibilities of neurological improvement. METHODS: We collected data from bispectral index (BIS) and suppression ratio (SR) monitoring of adult comatose survivors of CA managed with targeted temperature management (TTM). Neurological status was assessed according to the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale. RESULTS: We included 340 patients. At the first full neurological evaluation, 211 patients (62.1%) achieved good outcome or CPC 1-2. Mean BIS values were significantly higher and median SR lower in patients with CPC 1-2. An average BIS> 26 during first 12 hours of TTM predicted good outcome with 89.5% sensitivity and 75.8% specificity (AUC of 0.869), while average SR values> 24 during the first 12 hours of TTM predicted poor outcome (CPC 3-5) with 91.5% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity (AUC, 0.906). Hourly BIS and SR values exhibited good predictive performance (AUC> 0.85), as soon as hour 2 for SR and hour 4 for BIS. CONCLUSIONS: BIS/SR are associated with patients' potential for neurological recovery after CA. This finding could help to create awareness of the possibility of a better outcome in patients who might otherwise be wrongly considered as nonviable and to establish personalized treatment escalation plans.

Neuron-Specific Enolase and S100B: The Earliest Predictors of Poor Outcome in Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Proper prognostication is critical in clinical decision-making following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, only a few prognostic tools with reliable accuracy are available within the first 24 h after admission. Aim: To test the value of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100B protein measurements at admission as early biomarkers of poor prognosis after OHCA. Methods: We enrolled 82 consecutive patients with OHCA who were unconscious when admitted. NSE and S100B levels were measured at admission, and routine blood tests were performed. Death and poor neurological status at discharge were considered as poor clinical outcomes. We evaluated the optimal cut-off levels for NSE and S100B using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Results: High concentrations of both biomarkers at admission were significantly associated with an increased risk of poor clinical outcome (NSE: odds ratio [OR] 1.042 per 1 ng/dL, [1.007−1.079; p = 0.004]; S100B: OR 1.046 per 50 pg/mL [1.004−1.090; p < 0.001]). The dual-marker approach with cut-off values of ≥27.6 ng/mL and ≥696 ng/mL for NSE and S100B, respectively, identified patients with poor clinical outcomes with 100% specificity. Conclusions: The NSE and S100B-based dual-marker approach allowed for early discrimination of patients with poor clinical outcomes with 100% specificity. The proposed algorithm may shorten the time required to establish a poor prognosis and limit the volume of futile procedures performed.

Enhancing cardiac arrest survival with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation: insights into the process of death.

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is an emerging method of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to improve outcomes from cardiac arrest. This approach targets patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest previously unresponsive and refractory to standard treatment, combining approximately 1 h of standard CPR followed by venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and coronary artery revascularization. Despite its relatively new emergence for the treatment of cardiac arrest, the approach is grounded in a vast body of preclinical and clinical data that demonstrate significantly improved survival and neurological outcomes despite unprecedented, prolonged periods of CPR. In this review, we detail the principles behind VA-ECMO-facilitated resuscitation, contemporary clinical approaches with outcomes, and address the emerging new understanding of the process of death and capability for neurological recovery.

Severe neurological nicotine intoxication by e-cigarette liquids: Systematic literature review.

Electronic cigarettes are a popular, easily purchased, alternative source of nicotine that is considered safer than conventional tobacco. However, Intentional or accidental exposure to e-liquid substances, mainly nicotine, can lead to serious, potentially fatal toxicity. Emergency and critical care physicians should keep in mind acute intoxication of this poison with a biphasic toxic syndrome. We highlight its potentially fatal outcome and suggest monitoring the adverse effects of nicotine according to a multimodal protocol integrating somatosensory evoked potentials, electroencephalography and neuroimaging data with anamnestic report and toxicological and laboratory data.

Early risk stratification after resuscitation from cardiac arrest.

Emergency clinicians often resuscitate cardiac arrest patients, and after acute resuscitation, clinicians face multiple decisions regarding disposition. Recent evidence suggests that out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with return of spontaneous circulation have higher odds of survival to hospital discharge, long-term survival, and improved functional outcomes when treated at centers that can provide advanced multidisciplinary care. For community clinicians, a high volume cardiac arrest center may be hours away. While current guidelines recommend against neurological prognostication in the first hours or days after return of spontaneous circulation, there are early findings suggestive of irrecoverable brain injury in which the patient would receive no benefit from transfer. In this Concepts article, we describe a simplified approach to quickly evaluate neurological status in cardiac arrest patients and identify findings concerning for irrecoverable brain injury. Characteristics of the arrest and resuscitation, initial neurological assessment, and brain computed tomography together can identify patients with high likelihood of irrecoverable anoxic injury. Patients who may benefit from centers with access to continuous electroencephalography are discussed. This approach can be used to identify patients who may benefit from rapid transfer to cardiac arrest centers versus those who may benefit from care close to home. Risk stratification also can provide realistic expectations for recovery to families.

Neurological Prognostications for the Therapeutic Hypothermia among Comatose Survivors of Cardiac Arrest.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are limited data of prognostic clues for neurological recovery in comatose survivors undergoing therapeutic hypothermia (TH). We aimed to evaluate clinical signs and findings that could predict neurological outcomes, and determine the optimal time for the prognostication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed database of postarrest survivors treated with TH in our hospital from 2006 to 2014. Cerebral performance category (CPC), neurological signs and findings in electroencephalography (EEG) and brain computed tomography (CT) were evaluated. In addition, the optimal time to evaluate neurological status was analyzed. RESULTS: TH was performed in 51 postarrest patients. Approximately 53% of TH patients survived at discharge and 33% of the hospital survivors had favorable outcome (CPC1-2). The prognostic clues for unfavorable outcome (CPC3-5) at discharge were lack of pupillary light response (PLR) and/or gag reflex after rewarming, and the absence of at least one of the brainstem reflexes, no eye-opening, or abnormal motor response on the 7th day. Myoclonus and seizure could not be used to indicate poor prognosis. In addition, prognostic values of EEG and CT findings were inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed the simple neurological signs helped predict short-term neurological prognosis. The most reliable sign determining unfavorable outcome was the lack of PLR. The optimal time to assess prognosis was either at 48-72 h or 7 days after return of spontaneous circulation.

Preliminary guideline- and pathophysiology-based protocols for neurocritical care.

BACKGROUND: Because of the complex pathophysiological processes involved, neurocritical care has been driven by anecdotal experience and physician preferences, which has led to care variation worldwide. Standardization of practice has improved outcomes for many of the critical conditions encountered in the intensive care unit. MAIN BODY: In this review article, we introduce preliminary guideline- and pathophysiology-based protocols for (1) prompt shivering management, (2) traumatic brain injury and intracranial pressure management, (3) neurological prognostication after cardiac arrest, (4) delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage, (5) nonconvulsive status epilepticus, and (6) acute or subacute psychosis and seizure. CONCLUSION: These tentative protocols may be useful tools for bedside clinicians who need to provide consistent, standardized care in a dynamic clinical environment. Because most of the contents of presented protocol are not supported by evidence, they should be validated in a prospective controlled study in future. We suggest that these protocols should be regarded as drafts to be tailored to the systems, environments, and clinician preferences in each institution.

Neurological prognostication tools in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in Danish intensive care units from 2005 to 2013.

BACKGROUND: Neurological prognostication is an essential part of post-resuscitation care in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This study aims to assess the use of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) of the head, electroencephalography (EEG), and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) in neurological prognostication in resuscitated OHCA patients and factors associated with their use in Danish tertiary and non-tertiary centers from 2005 to 2013 and associations with outcome. METHODS: We used the Danish Cardiac Arrest Registry to identify patients ≥18 years of age admitted to intensive care units due to OHCA of presumed cardiac etiology. CT 0-20 days and MR, SSEP, and EEG ≥2-20 days post OHCA were considered related to prognostication. Incidence and factors associated with procedures were assessed by multiple Cox regression with death as competing risk. RESULTS: Use of CT, MR, EEG, and SSEP increased during the study period (CT: 51%-67%, HRCT : 1.06, CI: 1.03-1.08, MR: 2%-5%, P = .08, EEG: 6%-33%, HREEG : 1.25, CI: 1.19-1.30, SSEP: 4%-15%, HRSSEP : 1.23, CI: 1.15-1.32). EEG and SSEP were more used in tertiary centers than non-tertiary (HREEG : 1.86, CI: 1.51-2.29, HRSSEP : 4.44, CI: 2.86-6.89). Use of CT, SSEP, and EEG were associated with higher 30-day mortality, and MR was associated with lower (HRCT : 1.15, CI: 1.01-1.30, HRMR : 0.53, CI: 0.37-0.77, HRSSEP : 1.90, CI: 1.57-2.32, HREEG : 1.75, CI: 1.49-2.05). CONCLUSION: Use of neurological prognostication procedures increased during the study period. EEG and SSEP were more used in tertiary centers. CT, EEG and SSEP were associated with increased mortality.

Is It Feasible and Safe to Wake Cardiac Arrest Patients Receiving Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia After 12 Hours to Enable Early Neuro-Prognostication? The Therapeutic Hypothermia and Early Waking Trial Protocol.

Mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH 33°C) post out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is widely accepted as standard of care. However, uncertainty remains around the dose and therapy duration. OHCA patients are usually kept sedated±paralyzed and ventilated for the first 24-36 hours, which allows for targeted temperature management, but makes neurological prognostication challenging. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility and safety of assessing the unconscious OHCA patient after 12 hours for early waking/extubation while continuing to provide MTH for 24 hours, and fever prevention for 72 hours by using an intravenous temperature management (IVTM) system and established conscious MTH anti-shiver regimens. This is a single-center, prospective, non-randomized observational study that will compare the results of early awakening (at 12 hours) with historical controls. A total of 50 consecutive unconscious survivors of OHCA, treated with MTH, who meet the Therapeutic Hypothermia and eArly Waking (THAW) inclusion criteria will be enrolled. The patient will receive MTH by using IVTM. After 12 hours of MTH, patients will be assessed by using strict clinical criteria to determine suitability for early waking and extubation. Once awake and extubated, MTH will continue for 24 hours with skin counter-warming and anti-shiver regimen followed fever prevention up to 72 hours. All patients will have serial electroencephalogram (EEG), somatic sensory potential, and neuro-biomarkers performed on admission to intensive care unit, 6 and 12 hours, then every 24 hours until 72 hours. The study has been approved by the National Research Ethics Service, Health Research Authority.

Transfusion of Blood Products in the Neurocritical Care Unit: An Exploration of Rationing and Futility.

Rationing is the allocation of scarce resources, which in healthcare necessarily requires withholding potentially beneficial treatments from some individuals. While it often entails a negative connotation, rationing is unavoidable because need is limitless and resources are not. How rationing occurs is important, because it not only affects individual lives, but also reflects society's most important values. At the core of any rationing, decision is how much a limited resource may benefit a patient, which can be particularly difficult to determine in the practice of neurocritical care, as prognosis is often uncertain. We present a case for the consideration of futility and blood product rationing in neurocritical care.

Protocol-driven neurological prognostication and withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy after cardiac arrest and targeted temperature management.

BACKGROUND: Brain injury is reportedly the main cause of death for patients resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, the majority may actually die following withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST) with a presumption of poor neurological recovery. We investigated how the protocol for neurological prognostication was used and how related treatment recommendations might have affected WLST decision-making and outcome after OHCA in the targeted temperature management (TTM) trial. METHODS: Analyses of prospectively recorded data: details of neurological prognostication; recommended level-of-care; WLST decisions; presumed cause of death; and cerebral performance category (CPC) 6 months following randomization. RESULTS: Of 939 patients, 452 (48%) woke and 139 (15%) died, mostly for non-neurological reasons, before a scheduled time point for neurological prognostication (72h after the end of TTM). Three hundred and thirteen (33%) unconscious patients underwent prognostication at a median 117 (IQR 93-137) hours after arrest. Thirty-three (3%) unconscious patients were not neurologically prognosticated and for 2 patients (1%) data were missing. Related care recommendations were: continue in 117 (37%); not escalate in 55 (18%); and withdraw in 141 (45%). WLST eventually occurred in 196 (63%) at median day 6 (IQR 5-8). At 6 months, only 2 patients with WLST were alive and 248 (79%) of prognosticated patients had died. There were significant differences in time to WLST and death after the different recommendations (log rank <0.001). CONCLUSION: Delayed prognostication was relevant for a minority of patients and related to subsequent decisions on level-of-care with effects on ICU length-of-stay, survival time and outcome.

Prognostic significance of clinical seizures after cardiac arrest and target temperature management.

AIM: Clinical seizures are common after cardiac arrest and predictive of a poor neurological outcome. Seizures may be myoclonic, tonic-clonic or a combination of seizure types. This study reports the incidence and prognostic significance of clinical seizures in the target temperature management (TTM) after cardiac arrest trial. Our hypotheses were that seizures are associated with a poor prognosis and that the incidence of seizures is not affected by the target temperature. METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of reported clinical seizures during day 1-7 in the TTM-trial including their treatment, EEG-findings, and long-term neurological outcome. The trial randomised 939 comatose survivors to TTM at 33°C or 36°C with strict criteria for withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies. Sensitivity, specificity and false positive rate for poor outcome were reported for different types of seizures. RESULTS: Clinical seizures were registered in 268 patients (29%), similarly distributed in both intervention arms. Early and late seizures were equally predictive of poor outcome. Myoclonic seizures were the most common (240 patients, 26%) and the most predictive of a poor outcome (sensitivity 36.1%, false positive rate 4.3%). Two patients with status myoclonus regained consciousness, one with a good neurological outcome, generating a false positive rate of poor outcome of 0.2% (95%CI 0.0-1.0). CONCLUSION: Clinical seizures are common after cardiac arrest and indicate poor outcome with limited specificity. Prolonged seizures are a very grave sign but occasional patients may have a good outcome. The level of the target temperature does not affect the prevalence or prognostic significance of seizures.

Neurological prognostication after cardiac arrest and targeted temperature management 33°C versus 36°C: Results from a randomised controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The reliability of some methods of neurological prognostication after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has been questioned since the introduction of induced hypothermia. The aim of this study was to determine whether different treatment temperatures after resuscitation affected the prognostic accuracy of clinical neurological findings and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) in comatose patients. METHODS: We calculated sensitivity and false positive rate for Glasgow Coma Scale motor score (GCS M), pupillary and corneal reflexes and SSEP to predict poor neurological outcome using prospective data from the Target Temperature Management after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Trial which randomised 939 comatose survivors to treatment at either 33 °C or 36 °C. Poor outcome was defined as severe disability, vegetative state or death (Cerebral Performance Category scale 3-5) at six months. RESULTS: 313 patients (33%) were prognostically assessed; 168 in the 33 °C, and 145 in the 36 °C group. A GCS M ≤ 2 had a false positive rate of 19.1% to predict poor outcome due to nine false predictions. Bilaterally absent pupillary reflexes had a false positive rate of 2.1% and absent corneal reflexes had a false positive rate of 2.2% due to one false prediction in each group. The false positive rate for bilaterally absent SSEP N20-peaks was 2.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Bilaterally absent pupillary and corneal reflexes and absent SSEP N20-peaks were reliable markers of a poor prognosis after resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest but low GCS M score was not. The reliability of the tests was not altered by the treatment temperature.

Difficulties with neurological prognostication in a young woman with delayed-onset generalised status myoclonus after cardiac arrest due to acute severe asthma.

Neurological prognostication in cardiac arrest survivors is difficult, especially when the primary etiology is respiratory arrest. Prognostic factors designed to have zero false-positive rates to robustly confirm poor outcome are usually inadequate to rule out poor outcomes (i.e., high specificity and low sensitivity). One of the least understood prognosticators is generalised status myoclonus (GSM), with case reports confusing GSM, isolated myoclonic jerks and post-hypoxic intention myoclonus (Lance Adams syndrome [LAS]). With several prognostic indicators (including status myoclonus) having been validated in the pre-hypothermia era, their current relevance is debatable. New modalities such as brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and continuous electroencephalography are being evaluated. We describe here a pregnant woman resuscitated from a cardiac arrest due to acute severe asthma, and an inability to reach a consensus based on published guidelines, with a brief overview of myoclonus, LAS and the role of MRI brain in assisting prognostication.