Neurologic injury is responsible for the vast majority of morbidity and mortality in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. Neurological prognostication is the driving force in these situations, as most deaths are related to withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy rather than the primary brain injury itself. Brain injury post-arrest can result in memory loss, movement disorders, seizure disorders, and disorders of consciousness but ultimate cognitive recovery remains hard to predict. Significant attention has been paid to the use of EEG, imaging and blood and CSF biomarkers to help risk-stratify the likelihood of remaining in coma. The role of the self-fulfilling prophecy has been raised in many studies of prognosis.
In order to prevent this cycle and provide clinicians with the best tools to improve patient prognosis and outcomes after Cardiac arrest, we have outlined the following key challenges we would like to see addressed in this article collection.
1. To identify the various and significant neurological complications in cardiac arrest survivors: It is known that neurological injury (primary and secondary) is responsible for the vast majority of morbidity and mortality in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors. Furthermore, advancement in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) techniques and introduction of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) improve survival rates, however may not improve neurological outcome. We hope to review and summarize the various neurological complications in all CA survivors in this issue.
2. To better characterize current prognosticator tools: Our aim is to summarize the current prognosticaton tools, including imaging, neurophysiology and serum/CSF biomarkers focusing on accurately predicting a good outcome. As already known, current testing is excellent for predicting poor outcome, however there are poor data for accurate good outcome prediction.
We aim at making this Research Topic an expert collection of information from various sources. We want to make it a platform where experts in the field can share their research, opinions, perspectives and novel approaches to this highly important topic. Thus, this Research Topic will welcome any types of manuscripts supported by the Journal – such as original research articles, full reviews, systematic reviews, and mini-review, but also, brief research articles and perspectives – pertaining, but not limited to the following themes:
• Animal or pre-clinical data regarding mechanism of neurologic injury or potential to mitigate neurologic injury
• Clinical studies centering on the assessment of accuracy and precision of current modes of prognostication
• Clinical studies focusing on neurological assessment of post anoxic patients undergoing eCPR
• EEG analysis of post-arrest patients
• Biomarkers in post anoxic patients
• Systematic reviews of meta-analyses regarding the role of variables in neurological prognostication
• Review articles centering on issues surrounding prognostication
Neurologic injury is responsible for the vast majority of morbidity and mortality in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. Neurological prognostication is the driving force in these situations, as most deaths are related to withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy rather than the primary brain injury itself. Brain injury post-arrest can result in memory loss, movement disorders, seizure disorders, and disorders of consciousness but ultimate cognitive recovery remains hard to predict. Significant attention has been paid to the use of EEG, imaging and blood and CSF biomarkers to help risk-stratify the likelihood of remaining in coma. The role of the self-fulfilling prophecy has been raised in many studies of prognosis.
In order to prevent this cycle and provide clinicians with the best tools to improve patient prognosis and outcomes after Cardiac arrest, we have outlined the following key challenges we would like to see addressed in this article collection.
1. To identify the various and significant neurological complications in cardiac arrest survivors: It is known that neurological injury (primary and secondary) is responsible for the vast majority of morbidity and mortality in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors. Furthermore, advancement in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) techniques and introduction of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) improve survival rates, however may not improve neurological outcome. We hope to review and summarize the various neurological complications in all CA survivors in this issue.
2. To better characterize current prognosticator tools: Our aim is to summarize the current prognosticaton tools, including imaging, neurophysiology and serum/CSF biomarkers focusing on accurately predicting a good outcome. As already known, current testing is excellent for predicting poor outcome, however there are poor data for accurate good outcome prediction.
We aim at making this Research Topic an expert collection of information from various sources. We want to make it a platform where experts in the field can share their research, opinions, perspectives and novel approaches to this highly important topic. Thus, this Research Topic will welcome any types of manuscripts supported by the Journal – such as original research articles, full reviews, systematic reviews, and mini-review, but also, brief research articles and perspectives – pertaining, but not limited to the following themes:
• Animal or pre-clinical data regarding mechanism of neurologic injury or potential to mitigate neurologic injury
• Clinical studies centering on the assessment of accuracy and precision of current modes of prognostication
• Clinical studies focusing on neurological assessment of post anoxic patients undergoing eCPR
• EEG analysis of post-arrest patients
• Biomarkers in post anoxic patients
• Systematic reviews of meta-analyses regarding the role of variables in neurological prognostication
• Review articles centering on issues surrounding prognostication
