Enikő Kovács

By Enikő Kovács and Endre Zima

Post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) incorporates post-cardiac arrest brain injury, post-cardiac arrest myocardial dysfunction, systemic ischemia/reperfusion syndrome and the precipitating pathology. Brain injury remains the leading cause of death in the post-cardiac arrest period. One of our main goals during post-resuscitation care is to guide a proper neuroprotective strategy. We are going to summarize the tools of neuroprotection in post-cardiac arrest therapy. The role of normoxia/normocapnia, normoglycemia, seizure control, sedation and pharmacologic strategies will be discussed in brief. The handling of temperature management and the management of hemodynamic variables to secure satisfactory cerebral perfusion will be worked out in details. Targeted temperature management is the main tool of neuroprotection in post-cardiac arrest therapy. We are going to conclude the principles of temperature control after successful resuscitation pointing out its beneficial effects. This method has also several complications that are going to be discussed highlighting its hemodynamic impacts. There is no evidence about target hemodynamic parameters during post-cardiac arrest syndrome to maintain cerebral perfusion neither about the most effective hemodynamic monitoring system. We are presenting preliminary data of our study where we investigate the effect of PiCCO™ (Pulse index Continous Cardiac Output) monitoring on the outcome in this patient group.

Part of the book: Resuscitation Aspects