Quantitative EEG and brain network analysis: predicting awakening from early coma after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

For patients in early coma after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), quantitative electroencephalogram (EEG) and brain network analysis was performed to identify relevant indicators of awakening.

A prospective cohort study was conducted on comatose patients after CPR in the neuro-critical care unit. The included patients received clinical evaluation. The bedside high-density (64-lead) EEG monitoring was performed for visual grading and calculation of power spectrum and brain network parameters. A 3-month prognostic assessment was performed and the patients were dichotomized into the awakening group and the unawakening group.

A total of 25 patients were included. The awakening group had higher GCS score, more slow wave pattern and reactive EEG than the unawakening group (P = 0.003, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Compared with the unawakening group, (1) the awakening group had significantly higher absolute and relative θ power and slow/fast band ratio of the whole brain (P < 0.05), (2) the awakening group had stronger connection based on coherence, phase synchronization, phase lag index and cross-correlation (P < 0.05), (3) the awakening group had higher small-worldness, clustering coefficient and average path length based on graph theory (P < 0.05).

The power spectrum and brain network characteristics in patients in early coma after CPR have predictive value for recovery.