Real-Time Brain Monitoring by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Predicts Neurological Outcome after Cardiac Arrest and Resuscitation in Rats: A Proof of Concept Study of a Novel Prognostic Measure after Cardiac Arrest

Clinical studies have demonstrated that dynamic changes in regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) after cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have a role in predicting neurological outcomes after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Our study evaluated whether the timing of rSO(2) decline shortly after CPR reflects the severity of brain injury in a rat model of CA. Rats were subjected to different durations of asphyxia to produce variable severities of brain injury, due to CA. Time from ROSC to achieving the initial minimum rSO(2) was defined as T(nadir). A T(nadir) cut-off of 24 min had optimal sensitivity and specificity for predicting good neurological outcomes at 72 h after ROSC (AUC, 0.88; sensitivity, 89%; specificity, 86%; p < 0.01). Immunohistochemistry at 72 h post-CA revealed that the number of Fluoro-Jade B positive degenerating neurons in the hippocampus CA1 sector were markedly higher in animals with T(nadir) > 24 min than that in animals with T(nadir) ≤ 24 min. There was no difference in the gene expressions of cytokines and mitochondrial fission proteins in the brain at 2 h after ROSC between rats with T(nadir) > 24 min and with T(nadir) ≤ 24 min. In conclusion, T(nadir) can be a novel predictor of good neurological outcomes after CA/CPR.