[Postresuscitation encephalopathy]

On the basis of morphological examination of brain from 250 deceased patients who after clinical death showed, during 1-63 days, symptoms of grave anoxic encephalopathy as well as retrospective analysis of clinical biochemical data, and biochemical post-mortem study of the blood and liquor, the main pathological forms of postresuscitation encephalopathy are distinguished. These are as follows: diffuse-focal anoxic lesions of the brain and spinal cord, partial (complete and incomplete) necroses, isolated total brain necrosis, subtotal necrosis of the brain stem and cerebellum. Morphogenesis as well as extra- and intracranial factors enhancing the development of these forms of encephalopathy are described. Developmental stages of necrotic alterations are singled out, attention is drawn to the processes of organization and reparative regeneration of the brain structural elements in the postresuscitation period. The influence of certain grave metabolic and circulatory disorders on the postresuscitation encephalopathy morphology is shown.