Brain protection in the immediate post-resuscitation phase

There is a type of cerebral lesion, which kills neuronal cells at a later stage (greater than 48 hrs) post CA, while the systemic circulation is functioning normally. Although this lesion is probably dependent on multiple factors (----multiple therapies), a keyfactor in the pathogenesis is the loss of autoregulation and "finetuning" of the cerebral bloodflow according to local tissue metabolic needs. Although beneficial effect of almost none of the following therapies has been documented in randomised clinical studies, the following suggestions are made: a) In the CA-CPR phase: efficient respiratory care and external cardiac compressions (ECC), especially during bicarbonate administration; consider open chest CPR early, especially in cases of long arrest time and ineffective ECC. The socalled new CPR does not improve neurological outcome. b) In the post CPR phase: The non-autoregulated brain (cfr. focal ischemia) is kept preferentially at pCO2 values 25-30 mmHg, pO2 values greater than 100 mmHg, and normotension. Some form of stress, seizure and hyperthermia control prevents further imbalance metabolism/bloodflow. Relative dehydration, oncotic balance, steroids, early control of sepsis and uremia, early CT scan and measurement/control of ICP. All the above is currently grouped under "standard neuro-intensive therapy". Some other therapies, presently suggested by animal research are not very obvious, need first randomised clinical studies and are not suggested at this stage for clinical use: barbiturate coma, diphantoine, streptokinase, multifaceted therapy including hemodilution-brainflushing, Ca++ influx blocking drugs (lidoflazine). One such "innovative" therapy, barbiturate coma, has already been proven to be relatively ineffective (BRCT I) (Acta anaesth. belg., 1984, 25, suppl., 219-226).