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 7(th) 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.