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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Utilizing the Modified T-Maze to Assess Functional Memory Outcomes After Cardiac Arrest
Published on: January 5, 2018
Cognitive and functional outcome after out of hospital cardiac arrest
Michael P Alexander1, Ginette Lafleche, David Schnyer
1Cognitive Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. malexand@bidmc.harvard.edu
Abstract:
The nature of residual cognitive deficits after out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is incompletely described and has never been defined against a cardiac control (CC) group. The objective of this study is to examine neuropsychological outcomes 3 months after OHCA in patients in a "middle range" of acute severity. Thirty prospective OHCA admissions with coma >1 day and responsive but confused at 1 week, and 30 non-OHCA coronary care admissions were administered standard tests in five cognitive domains. OHCA subjects fell into two deficit profiles. One group (N = 20) had mild memory deficits and borderline psychomotor deficits compared to the CC group; 40% had returned to work. The other group (N = 10) had severe impairments in all domains. Coma duration was associated with group. Neither group had a high prevalence of depression. For most patients within the "middle range" of acute severity of OHCA, cognitive and functional outcomes at 3 months were encouraging.
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