Neurological outcome is an important determinant of death in admitted survivors after
out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Studies demonstrated several significant pre-hospital predictors of ischemic
brain injury (time to
resuscitation, time of
resuscitation, and cause of OHCA). Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between post-
resuscitation clinical parameters and neurological outcome in OHCA patients, when all recommended therapeutic strategies, including
hypothermia, were on board. We retrospectively included consecutive 110 patients, admitted to the medical ICU after successful
resuscitation due to OHCA. Neurological outcome was defined by cerebral performance category (
CPC) scale I-V.
CPC categories I-II defined good neurological outcome and
CPC categories III-V severe ischemic
brain injury. Therapeutic measures were aimed to achieve optimal circulation and oxygenation, early
percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in
acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and
therapeutic hypothermia to improve survival and neurological outcome of OHCA patients. We observed good neurological outcome in 37.2% and severe ischemic
brain injury in 62.7% of patients. Severe ischemic
brain injury was associated significantly with known pre-hospital data (older age, cause of OHCA, and longer
resuscitations), but also with increased admission
lactate, in-hospital complications (involuntary muscular contractions/
seizures,
heart failure,
cardiogenic shock,
acute kidney injury, and mortality), and inotropic and vasopressor support. Good neurological outcome was associated with early PCI, dual antiplatelet
therapy, and better survival. We conclude that in OHCA patients, post-
resuscitation early PCI and dual antiplatelet
therapy in ACS were significantly associated with good neurological outcome, but severe ischemic
brain injury was associated with several in-hospital complications and the need for vasopressor and inotropic support.