Anoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury

Abstract

Improvements in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intensive care medicine have led to declining mortality rates for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, but overall it is still a minority that achieves good outcomes. Estimating neurologic prognosis for patients that remain comatose after resuscitation remains a challenge and the need for accurate and early prognostic predictors is crucial. A thoughtful approach is required and should take into account information acquired from multiple tests in association with neurologic examination. No decision should be made based on a single predictor. In addition to clinical examination, somatosensory evoked potentials, electroencephalogram, serum biomarkers, and neuroimaging provide complimentary information to inform prognosis.

Keywords: Anoxic-ischemic brain injury; Cardiac arrest; Coma; Prognostication.