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Published on: April 14, 2023
Neuroprognostication in the Post Cardiac Arrest Patient: A Canadian Cardiovascular Society Position Statement
Christopher B Fordyce1, Andreas H Kramer2, Craig Ainsworth3
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, and the Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Insights
Accurate neuroprognostication after cardiac arrest (CA) is crucial for patient survival and recovery. This guide offers a systematic, multimodal approach to predicting neurologic outcomes following CA resuscitation.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Neurology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Cardiac arrest (CA) survivors face poor neurologic recovery, often leading to withdrawal of care.
- Accurate neuroprognostication is vital but challenging due to hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
- Limited evidence currently guides neuroprognostication in post-CA patients.
Framework:
- Utilized the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.
- Evaluated evidence for factors and diagnostic modalities in neuroprognostication.
- Generated recommendations across seven key domains.
Implementation:
- Focused neurologic examination
- Assessment of myoclonus and seizures
- Serum biomarkers
- Neuroimaging
- Neurophysiologic testing
- Multimodal neuroprognostication strategies
Implications:
- Aims to enhance in-hospital care for cardiac arrest patients.
- Emphasizes a systematic, multimodal approach to neuroprognostication.
- Highlights existing evidence gaps for future research.
Abstract:
Cardiac arrest (CA) is associated with a low rate of survival with favourable neurologic recovery. The most common mechanism of death after successful resuscitation from CA is withdrawal of life-sustaining measures on the basis of perceived poor neurologic prognosis due to underlying hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Neuroprognostication is an important component of the care pathway for CA patients admitted to hospital but is complex, challenging, and often guided by limited evidence. Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to evaluate the evidence underlying factors or diagnostic modalities available to determine prognosis, recommendations were generated in the following domains: (1) circumstances immediately after CA; (2) focused neurologic exam; (3) myoclonus and seizures; (4) serum biomarkers; (5) neuroimaging; (6) neurophysiologic testing; and (7) multimodal neuroprognostication. This position statement aims to serve as a practical guide to enhance in-hospital care of CA patients and emphasizes the adoption of a systematic, multimodal approach to neuroprognostication. It also highlights evidence gaps.
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