title: Electroencephalogram predicts outcome in patients with postanoxic coma during mild therapeutic hypothermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of electroencephalogram for prediction of outcome of comatose patients after cardiac arrest treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-two patients with postanoxic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest, who were treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Continuous electroencephalogram was recorded during the first 5 days of ICU admission. Visual classification of electroencephalogram patterns was performed in 5-minute epochs at 12 and 24 hours after cardiac arrest by two independent observers, blinded for patients' conditions and outcomes. Patterns were classified as isoelectric, low voltage, epileptiform, burst-suppression, diffusely slowed, or normal. Burst-suppression was subdivided into patterns with and without identical bursts. Primary outcome measure was the neurologic outcome based on each patient's best achieved Cerebral Performance Category score within 6 months after inclusion. 67 patients (47%) had favorable outcome (Cerebral Performance Category, 1-2). In patients with favorable outcome, electroencephalogram patterns improved within 24 hours after cardiac arrest, mostly toward diffusely slowed or normal. At 24 hours after cardiac arrest, the combined group of isoelectric, low voltage, and "burst-suppression with identical bursts" was associated with poor outcome with a sensitivity of 48% (95% CI, 35-61) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 94-100). At 12 hours, normal or diffusely slowed electroencephalogram patterns were associated with good outcome with a sensitivity of 56% (95% CI, 41-70) and a specificity of 96% (95% CI, 86-100).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electroencephalogram allows reliable prediction of both good and poor neurologic outcome of patients with postanoxic encephalopathy treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia within 24 hours after cardiac arrest.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, MIRA, Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. 2Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. 3Department of Neurology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands. 4Department of Intensive Care, Medisch Spectrum Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands. 5Department of Intensive Care, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marleen C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tjepkema-Cloostermans
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hofmeijer
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Trof
authors.forename: Michiel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blans
authors.forename: Albertus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beishuizen
authors.forename: Michel J A M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van Putten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome