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Updated: May 13, 2026
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Optic Nerve Sheath Point of Care Ultrasound: Image Acquisition
Published on: August 18, 2023
Ultrasound-Measured Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Predicts Cognitive Dysfunction After Resuscitation: A Retrospective
Yuexiang Peng1, Min Huang1, Yanfang Sun1
1Department of Ultrasound, The Third Hospital of Wuhan.
Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|May 11, 2026
Summary
Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measured by ultrasound can predict cognitive dysfunction after cardiac arrest. Lower ONSD values indicate better outcomes, while high values suggest poor neurological recovery and increased mortality.
Area of Science:
- Critical Care Medicine
- Neurology
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) is a non-invasive marker for intracranial pressure.
- Prognostic value of ONSD in post-resuscitation patients is under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of ONSD in predicting cognitive dysfunction in neurological intensive care unit (ICU) patients after cardiac arrest.
- To assess the correlation between serial ONSD measurements and neurological outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of 48 adult patients post-cardiac arrest with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
- Serial ONSD measurements at baseline, 24h, and 72h post-ROSC using transorbital ultrasound.
- Neurological status assessed by Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS); cognitive outcomes by MMSE and MoCA.
Main Results:
- Favorable neurological outcomes correlated with lower baseline ONSD and progressive decline over time, linked to GCS improvement.
- Persistently elevated ONSD associated with poor cognitive outcomes, minimal recovery, and higher early mortality.
- An ONSD cutoff of 5.8 mm predicted poor outcomes with 42.9% sensitivity and 85.9% specificity.
Conclusions:
- Serial ONSD measurements are a rapid, reproducible, non-invasive bedside tool for early neurological prognostication post-cardiac arrest.
- Integrating ONSD with clinical parameters can enhance risk stratification in critical care settings.