Cerebral anoxia and disability

To describe the sequelae of cerebral anoxia following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, to study the functional outcome and to seek a link between the acute stage and the disability.

A retrospective study was performed. The initial findings and the neurological and neuropsychological status are recorded of 12 patients admitted to the rehabilitation unit for after-effects of cerebral anoxia following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

After clinical and neuropsychological assessment, all patients displayed cognitive impairment. Two groups of patients appeared: seven patients were severely disabled with a dysexecutive and behavioural frontal lobe syndrome and memory deficit; five out of the seven also presented an extra-pyramidal syndrome; the other five patients presented behavioural dysfunction related to frontal lobe disorder but were independent in daily life activities. No correlation was found between the acute stage data and the outcome.

Neurological and neuropsychological impairment after cerebral anoxia may be severe but seems difficult to predict. A dysexecutive syndrome was noted in all 12 patients.