Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

The prognostic value of cerebral oxygen saturation measurement for assessing prognosis after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Abstract

Background:

Despite new improvements on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), brain damage is very often after resuscitation.

Objective:

To assess the prognostic value of cerebral oxygen saturation measurement (rSO2) for assessing prognosis on patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Design:

Retrospective analysis.

Measurements and results:

We analyzed 25 post-CPR patients (12 female and 13 male). All the patients were cooled to a target temperature of 33-34 °C. The Glascow Coma Scale (GCS), Corneal Reflexes (CR), Pupillary Reflexes (PR), arterial Base Excess (BE) and rSO2 measurements were taken on admission. The rewarming GCS, CR, PR, BE and rSO2 measurements were made after the patient's temperature reached 36 °C.

Results:

In survivors, the baseline rSO2 value was 67.5 (46-70) and the percent difference between baseline and rewarming rSO2 value was 0.03 (0.014-0.435). In non-survivors, the baseline rSO2 value was 30 (25-65) and the percent difference between baseline and rewarming rSO2 value was 0.031 (-0.08 to -20). No statistical difference was detected on percent changes between baseline and rewarming values of rSO2. Statistically significant difference was detected between baseline and rewarming GCS groups (p = 0.004). No statistical difference was detected between GCS, CR, PR, BE and rSO2 to determine the prognosis.

Conclusion:

Despite higher values of rSO2 on survivors than non-survivors, we found no statistically considerable difference between groups on baseline and the rewarming rSO2 values. Since the measurement is simple, and not affected by hypotension and hypothermia, the rSO2 may be a useful predictor for determining the prognosis after CPR.

KEYWORDS
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Cerebral oxygen saturation; Prognosis

Resumo

Justificativa:

Apesar dos novos avanços em reanimação cardiopulmonar (RCP), o dano cerebral muitas vezes ocorre após a reanimação.

Objetivo:

Avaliar o valor prognóstico de medir a saturação de oxigênio cerebral (rSO2) para estimar o prognóstico em pacientes após a reanimação cardiopulmonar.

Projeto:

Análise retrospectiva.

Medidas e resultados:

Foram avaliados após RCP 25 pacientes (12 do sexo feminino e 13 do masculino). Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à hipotermia (temperatura alvo de 33-34 °C). As mensurações da Escala de Coma de Glascow (GCS), dos reflexos corneanos (RC), dos reflexos pupilares (RP) e do excesso de base (EB) e rSO2 foram feitas na admissão. Na hipertermia, as mensurações de GCS, RC, RP, EB e rSO2 foram feitas depois que a temperatura atingiu 36 °C.

Resultados:

Em sobreviventes, o valor basal de rSO2 foi de 67,5 (46-70) e a diferença percentual entre o valor basal e a hipertermia de rSO2 foi de 0,03 (0,014-0,435). Em não sobreviventes, o valor basal de rSO2 foi de 30 (25-65) e a diferença percentual entre o valor basal de hipotermia de rSO2 foi de 0,031 (-0,08-20). Não houve diferença estatística nas variações percentuais entre os valores da rSO2 na fase basal e de reaquecimento. Uma diferença estatisticamente significativa foi observada entre os valores da GCS na fase basal e de reaquecimento dos grupos (p = 0,004). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre GCS, RC, RP, EB e rSO2 para determinar o prognóstico.

Conclusão:

Embora os valores da rSO2 tenham sido mais elevados em sobreviventes do que em não sobreviventes, não observamos uma diferença estatisticamente significativa dos valores da rSO2 entre os grupos na fase basal e de reaquecimento. Como a mensuração é simples, e não afetada por hipotensão e hipotermia, a rSO2 pode ser um indicador útil para determinar o prognóstico após a RCP.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE
Reanimação cardiopulmonar; Saturação de oxigênio cerebral; Prognóstico

Introduction

Despite recent improvements in resuscitation strategies, brain damage is very often an event after Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the outcome remains poor.11 Atwood C, Eisenberg MS, Herlitz J, Rea TD. Incidence of EMS treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Europe. Resuscitation. 2005;67:75-80.

2 Nichol G, Thomas E, Callaway CW, et al. Regional variation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence and outcome. JAMA. 2008;300:1423-31.
-33 Peberdy MA, Kaye W, Ornato JP. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of adults in the hospital: a report of 14,720 cardiac arrests from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2003;58:297-308.

The early assessment of neurological outcomes after CPR is important, and there has been a growing interest to estimate the prognosis after CPR. In recent years, several studies reported the predictors of neurologic outcome in survivors of cardiac arrest submitted to therapeutic hypothermia.44 Bouwes A, Binnekade JM, Verbaan BW, et al. Predictive value of neurological examination for early cortical responses to somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with postanoxic coma. J Neurol. 2012;259:537-41.

5 Maia B, Roque R, Amaral-Silva A, et al. Predicting outcome after cardiopulmonary arrest in therapeutic hypothermia patients: clinical, electrophysiological and imaging prognosticators. Acta Med Port. 2013;26:93-7.

6 Sandroni C, Cavallaro F, Callaway CW, et al. Predictors of poor neurological outcome in adult comatose survivors of cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Part 2: patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1324-38.

7 Greer DM, Yang J, Scripko PD, et al. Clinical examination for prognostication in comatose cardiac arrest patients. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1546-51.
-88 Storm C, Leithner C, Krannich A, et al. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation after cardiac arrest in 60 patients - a prospective outcome study. Resuscitation. 2014;85:1037-41.

Clinical neurologic examinations such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Corneal Reflex (CR), and Pupillary Reflex (PR) tests are very simple methods and widely used. Biomarkers and electrophysiological tests are also used, but with complexity. In a recent study,77 Greer DM, Yang J, Scripko PD, et al. Clinical examination for prognostication in comatose cardiac arrest patients. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1546-51. the authors concluded that predicting neurological outcome after cardiac arrest by biomarkers, clinical neurologic examination and electrophysiological tests can be difficult. In another previous research, the authors reported that absent CR, absent Pupillary Light Reflex (PLR), and absence of motor responses were strongly related with poor neurological outcomes.99 Booth CM, Boone RH, Tomlinson G, et al. Is this patient dead, vegetative, or severely neurologically impaired? Assessing outcome for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. JAMA. 2004;291:870-9.,1010 Schefold JC, Storm C, Krüger A, Ploner CJ, Hasper D. The Glasgow Coma Score is a predictor of good outcome in cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Resuscitation. 2009;80:658-61. Different studies concluded that clinical examination should be combined with modern technology for early prognostication.66 Sandroni C, Cavallaro F, Callaway CW, et al. Predictors of poor neurological outcome in adult comatose survivors of cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Part 2: patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1324-38.,77 Greer DM, Yang J, Scripko PD, et al. Clinical examination for prognostication in comatose cardiac arrest patients. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1546-51.

Monitoring of the oxygen saturation of the brain is a new method, and previous studies have described that a decrease in the regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) is a valuable predictor for postoperative cognitive dysfunction, as well as prolonged Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and hospital stays.1111 Slater JP, Guarino T, Stack J, et al. Cerebral oxygen desaturation predicts cognitive decline and longer hospital stay after cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009;87:36-44.

12 Yao FS, Tseng CC, Ho CY, Levin SK, Illner P. Cerebral oxygen desaturation is associated with early postoperative neurophychological dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2004;18:552-8.

13 Higami T, Kozawa S, Asada T, et al. Retrograde cerebral perfusion versus selective cerebral perfusion as evaluated by cerebral oxygen saturation during aortic arch reconstruction. Ann Thorac Surg. 1999;67:1091-6.

14 Edmonds HL. Multi-modality neurophysiologic monitoring for cardiac surgery. Heart Surg Forum. 2002;5:225-8.

15 Murkin JM, Adams SJ, Novick RJ, et al. Monitoring brain oxygen saturation during coronary bypass surgery: a randomized, prospective study. Anesth Analg. 2007;104:51-8.
-1616 Ito N, Nanto S, Nagao K, Hatanaka T, Nishiyama K, Kai T. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation on hospital arrival is a potential novel predictor of neurological outcomes at hospital discharge in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2012;83:46-50. The advantages of this method are that the measurement is not affected by hypothermia or hypotension and that it can gather real-time measurements using near infrared spectroscopy.88 Storm C, Leithner C, Krannich A, et al. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation after cardiac arrest in 60 patients - a prospective outcome study. Resuscitation. 2014;85:1037-41.,1616 Ito N, Nanto S, Nagao K, Hatanaka T, Nishiyama K, Kai T. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation on hospital arrival is a potential novel predictor of neurological outcomes at hospital discharge in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2012;83:46-50.

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of rSO2 to assess prognosis after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Materials and methods

The Regional Ethical Committee approved the study (GOKAEK 2013/191). All new post-CPR patients admitted to the general and surgical ICU who stayed >24 h during a 2-year period (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013) were retrospectively enrolled. Our ICUs included 19 beds and the physicians had to have experience in measuring GCS, PR, CR, BE and rSO2.

In our study, we used the term cardiac arrest similar to the definition made by Ito et al.,1616 Ito N, Nanto S, Nagao K, Hatanaka T, Nishiyama K, Kai T. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation on hospital arrival is a potential novel predictor of neurological outcomes at hospital discharge in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2012;83:46-50. who defined cardiac arrest as the absence of spontaneous respiration, palpable pulse, and responsiveness to stimuli.

Resuscitation time and resuscitation place (the resuscitation places were divided into emergency department and medical departments) were recorded. The illness was categorized to medical cardiac, medical non-cardiac, surgical cardiac and surgical non-cardiac. Comorbidies were also recorded.

Age, gender and APACHE II scores were all recorded on admission.

We used the following responses to calculate the GCS, as described by Teasdale et al.1717 Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment and prognosis of coma after head injury. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1976;34(1-4):45-55.: eyes opening response, verbal response, and motor response. CR and PR were described as present or absent. GCS, CR and PR were recorded on admission.

We used the Cobas b221® (Roche, Mannheim, Germany) for arterial blood gases analysis and the arterial Base Excess (BE) was calculated automatically according to the National Committee for clinical laboratory standards recommendations. BE value was recorded on admission.

To measure the rSO2, two sensors were applied bilaterally to the patients’ forehead after the patients’ forehead skin and rSO2 were measured by using the INVOS® (Covidien, USA) device on admission. Lower values were recorded.

In our daily practice, we used hypothermia for all post-CPR patients. All the patients were cooled to 33-34 °C by the use of a mattress that uses cold air and ice packs. By cooling, we wanted to reach the target temperature within 4 h and maintain this temperature for 24 h and then follow it with passive rewarming. No sedatives were given to the patients.

After rewarming, GCS, CR, PR, BE and rSO2 measurements were performed and recorded.

During the study, all the patients had a glucose level between 130 and 160 mg.dL-1, central venous pressure 12-13 mmHg and etC02 34-36 mmHg. If necessary, vasoactive or inotropic support was given to patients to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure >65 mmHg.

Patients were followed up until death or ICU discharge. Length of ICU stay and prognosis were recorded and patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors.

Exclusion criteria were as follows: age under 18 years, history of irreversible brain damage and a traumatic origin.

Statistical analysis

Results are expressed as median (min - max) or number. Normality distribution of variables was tested using one sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. The groups were compared by Mann Whitney U-test for non-normal distributed data. Categorical variables were compared by using the Fisher's Chi-square and Mc Nemar test. ROC analysis was performed for GCS baseline and rewarming, BE baseline and rewarming, and rSO2 baseline and rewarming. Sensitivity and specificity were performed for PR baseline and rewarming and CR baseline and rewarming. A p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. MedCalc V13.3.3 and SPSS 21 statistical softwares were used for statistical analyses.

Results

Thirty-eight patients were admitted to the ICUs during the study period. Only 25 of them were included in the study. Thirteen patients were excluded because of inadequate data like under 18 years old, or they had sedative infusions. Four patients were discharged from the ICUs, while 21 died. The median age of the patients in the survivor group was 65.5 (20-68) years, while it was 68 (22-86) years in the non-survivor group. The ICU stays among the survivors lasted 7 (7-8) days, while non-survivors stayed for 6 (2-61) days. The resuscitation time for survivors was 27.5 (5-30) min, while it was 15 (10-45) min for non-survivors. The APACHE II score for survivors was 23 (7-24), while it was 27 (7-33) for non-survivors. No considerable difference was detected between groups on age, gender, ICU stay, resuscitation time and APACHE II scores (p > 0.005) (Table 1). One patient in survivor group and 15 patients in non-survivor group used vasoactive or inotropic support. The places of resuscitation, the illness categories and comorbidities are shown in Table 1.

Table 1
Demographic data.

The baseline GCS for survivors was 6 (3-15), while it was 3 (3-6) in non-survivors, and no statistically major difference was detected (p = 0.062). The percent changes between baseline and rewarming GCS was found as -1 (-1 to [-1]) in survivors and 0 (0-1) in non-survivors. A statistical difference was detected between the groups (p = 0.004) (Table 2). The baseline BE for survivors was -3.0 (-21.6 to -3.5) and -9.1 (-22 to -2) for non-survivors and no statistically considerable difference was detected (p = 0.235). The percent changes between baseline and rewarming BE for survivors was 1 (1-1) while 0 (-1 to 0) for non-survivors. Statistically considerable difference was detected (p = 0.006) (Table 2). In survivors, the baseline rSO2 value was 67.5 (46-70), and the percent difference between baseline and rewarming rSO2 value was 0.03 (0.014-0.435). In non-survivors, the baseline rSO2 value was 30 (25-65) and the percent difference between baseline and rewarming rSO2 value was 0.031 (-0.08 to .20). Although statistically considerable difference was detected between groups on baseline rSO2 values, no statistical difference was detected on percent changes between baseline and rewarming values of rSO2 (respectively p = 0.003, 0.526) (Table 2).

Table 2
GCS, BE and rSO2 values.

Among those in the survivor group, three patients had a positive baseline PR, while one had a negative baseline PR. In the non-survivor group, 6 patients had a positive baseline PR while 15 had a negative baseline PR. No statistically considerable difference was detected between groups (p = 0.116). After rewarming, the PR values were as follows: In the survivor group, zero patients had a positive PLR, while four had a negative PR. In the non-survivor group, 6 patients had a positive PR, while 15 had a negative PR. No statistically considerable difference was detected between groups (p = 0.540). The PR and CR measurements are shown in Table 3. No statistically considerable difference was detected between groups on baseline and rewarming CR (respectively p = 0.186, 0.540). No statistically major difference was detected between percent changes on survivor and non-survivors groups (respectively p = 1.000, 1.000, 1.000, 1.000). The baseline and rewarming measurements of GCS and BE values belonging to the percent changes are calculated, in the survivors group, and for GCS the median (min - max) was -1 (-1 to [-1]) and for BE the median was 1 (1-1). In the non-survivors group, for GCS, the median (min-max) was 0 (0-1) and for BE, the median (min-max) was 0 (-1 to 0). Statistically considerable difference was detected (respectively p = 0.040, 0.006) (Table 2). In the survivors group, for rSO2, the median (min-max) was 0.031 (-0.08 to 0.20), and in non-survivors group, for GCS, the median (min-max) was 0.03 (0.014-0.435). Statistically considerable difference was not detected between the groups (p = 0.526).

Table 3
Corneal and pupillary reflexes.

The Area Under the Curve (AUC) value for baseline GCS was 0.78 with an optimal cut-off point of 5 according to Yaden Index. The sensitivity was found to be 85.7% and the specificity was 75%. The Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 94.7%, while the Negative Predictive Value (NPV) was found to be 49.9%. No statistically major difference was detected (p = 0.1114). The AUC measurement for the rewarming GCS was 0.958 with an optimal cut-off point of 7 according to Yaden Index. The sensitivity and specificity were found to be 90.4% and 100%. The PPV was 100%, while the NPV was 66.6%. A statistically considerable difference was detected (p < 0.0001) (Table 4). The optimal cut-off point for baseline BE was -7.5 according to Yaden Index with 0.69 as an AUC value. The sensitivity was found to be 76.19% and the specificity was 75%. The PPV was 94.1%, while the NPV was found to be 37.5%. No statistically significant difference was detected (p = 0.390). The AUC value for rewarming BE was 0.976 with an optimal cut-off point of -1.2 according to Yaden Index. The sensitivity was 90.4% while specificity was 100%. The PPV was 100%, while the NPV was found to be 66.7%. Statistically, difference was detected (p < 0.0001) (Table 4). The AUC value for baseline rSO2 was 0.964. The optimal cut-off point was found to be 41 according to Yaden Index. The sensitivity and specificity were found to be 90.4% and 100%. The PPV was 100%, while the NPV was 66.6%. A statistically significant difference was detected (p < 0.0001). The AUC measurement for the rewarming rSO2 was 0.976 with an optimal cut-off point of 38 according to Yaden Index. The sensitivity was found to be 90.4% and the specificity was 100%. The PPV and NPV were 100% and 66.6%. A statistically significant difference was detected (p < 0.0001) (Table 4).

Table 4
The optimal cut-off, AUC, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV values.

The sensitivity for baseline PR and CR was 71.4%, while the specificity was 22% and 25%. The PPV and NPV were 83.3% and 14.3%, respectively (p > 0.05). The sensitivity for rewarming PR and CR was 71.4%, while the specificity was 0 and 100.0%. The PPV were 78.9% and 100.0%, and the NPV were 0.0% and 40.0% (p = 0.508) (Table 4).

On comparison of all tests with each other no statistically considerable difference was detected (respectively; p = 0.754, 0.508, 0.754).

Discussion

We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of cerebral oxygen saturation measurement to assess prognoses after CPR. Despite higher values of rSO2 on survivors than non-survivors, we found no statistically considerable difference between groups on baseline and the rewarming rSO2 values. Also, no difference was detected between other tests.

Ito et al.1616 Ito N, Nanto S, Nagao K, Hatanaka T, Nishiyama K, Kai T. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation on hospital arrival is a potential novel predictor of neurological outcomes at hospital discharge in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2012;83:46-50. defined cardiac arrest as the absence of spontaneous respiration, palpable pulse, and responsiveness to stimuli, and we also used this definition in our study.

Despite improvements on resuscitation and ICU protocols, the rate of survival was low. Peberdy et al.33 Peberdy MA, Kaye W, Ornato JP. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of adults in the hospital: a report of 14,720 cardiac arrests from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2003;58:297-308. carried out a study on 14,720 cardiac arrest patients and reported that 17% survived hospital discharge. Another study by Greer et al.77 Greer DM, Yang J, Scripko PD, et al. Clinical examination for prognostication in comatose cardiac arrest patients. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1546-51. demonstrated a good outcome of 9.9% survival among patients. In our study, we found a 16% survival rate.

Therapeutic hypothermia is one of the treatment methods for patients surviving cardiac arrest. Therapeutic hypothermia was defined as cooling of the patient to 32-34 °C for 12-24 h. Different studies reported the advantages and disadvantages of therapeutic hypothermia.1818 Nolan JP, Morley PT, Hoek TL, Hickey RW. Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. An advisory statement by the Advancement Life support Task Force of the International Liaison committee on Resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2003;57:231-5.,1919 Morrison LJ, Deakin CD, Morley PT, et al. 2010 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations. Circulation. 2010;122:345-421. Due to the uncertain recommendations on therapeutic hypothermia, we routinely used it for our patients in our intensive care.

Outcome prediction is an important component of the management of post-CPR patients. Monitoring GCS is a very useful method and is frequently used in ICUs; moreover, hospital staff members are well trained in calculating GCS scores. Several previous studies reported the usage of GCS as a prognostic factor in post-CPR critically ill patients.1010 Schefold JC, Storm C, Krüger A, Ploner CJ, Hasper D. The Glasgow Coma Score is a predictor of good outcome in cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Resuscitation. 2009;80:658-61.,2020 Mullie A, Verstringe P, Buylaert W, et al. Predictive value of Glasgow coma score for awakening after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Cerebral Resuscitation Study Group of the Belgian Society for Intensive Care. Lancet. 1988;1:137-40. Schefold et al.1010 Schefold JC, Storm C, Krüger A, Ploner CJ, Hasper D. The Glasgow Coma Score is a predictor of good outcome in cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Resuscitation. 2009;80:658-61. designed a study to analyze the usefulness of GCS for outcome prediction in survivors of cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia. They found that GCS scores were significantly higher in patients with a good outcome compared with those with an unfavorable outcome. The authors reported that a score of >3 on the motor component pointed good outcomes with a specificity of 100% on the first day. Mullie et al.2020 Mullie A, Verstringe P, Buylaert W, et al. Predictive value of Glasgow coma score for awakening after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Cerebral Resuscitation Study Group of the Belgian Society for Intensive Care. Lancet. 1988;1:137-40. suggested that the GCS-based rule can be helpful in predicting outcomes in patients resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In another study, Bouwes et al.44 Bouwes A, Binnekade JM, Verbaan BW, et al. Predictive value of neurological examination for early cortical responses to somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with postanoxic coma. J Neurol. 2012;259:537-41. found that the motor scores 72 h after CPR were not valuable when it came to determining the prognosis after CPR. In a review by Wijdicks et al.,2121 Wijdicks EF, Hijdra A, Young GB, Bassetti CL, Wiebe S. Practice parameter: prediction of outcome in comatose survivors after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2006;67:203-10. the GCS was divided into a motor part and brainstem reflexes, and the authors found that the prognosis was poor with absent PR or CR or absent or extensor motor responses 3 days after cardiac arrest. In our study, we calculated the GCS twice. The median baseline GCS for survivors was 6 (3-15), while it was 3 (3-6) in non-survivors. The percent differences between baseline and rewarming values for GCS were -1 (-1 to [-1]) in survivors and 0 (0-1) in non-survivors.

CR and PR have also been widely used. A study made by Greer et al.77 Greer DM, Yang J, Scripko PD, et al. Clinical examination for prognostication in comatose cardiac arrest patients. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1546-51. demonstrated that PR may be absent immediately after post-arrest and may subsequently recover. The authors concluded that the absence of PR and CR on day 3 remained highly valuable for predicting poor outcomes. Moreover, Bouwes et al.44 Bouwes A, Binnekade JM, Verbaan BW, et al. Predictive value of neurological examination for early cortical responses to somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with postanoxic coma. J Neurol. 2012;259:537-41. reported similar results and concluded that absent pupillary light responses and CR 72 h after CPR were reliable predictors of poor outcomes. The same authors determined that motor scores 72 h after CPR was not a reliable factor. The authors concluded that the possible explanation of their observation might be an overrating of the motor score. Maia et al.55 Maia B, Roque R, Amaral-Silva A, et al. Predicting outcome after cardiopulmonary arrest in therapeutic hypothermia patients: clinical, electrophysiological and imaging prognosticators. Acta Med Port. 2013;26:93-7. enrolled 26 patients in their study and reported that absent PLR and absent CR showed no false-positives in predicting poor outcomes. In our study, in the survivor group, 3 patients had a positive baseline PLR while one had a negative baseline PLR. In the non-survivor group, 6 patients had a positive baseline PLR, while 15 had a negative baseline PLR. No statistically considerable difference was detected between groups. After rewarming, the PLR values were as follows: In the survivor group, zero patients had a positive PLR, while four had a negative PLR. In the non-survivor group, 6 patients had a positive PLR, while 15 had a negative PLR. No statistical major difference was detected between groups. Moreover, no statistically significant difference was detected between groups on baseline and rewarming CR.

Monitoring of arterial base excess is used for assessing outcome after CPR.2222 Takasu A, Sakamoto T, Okada Y. Arterial base excess after CPR: the relationship to CPR duration and the characteristics related to outcome. Resuscitation. 2007;73:394-9. In their study, Takasu et al.2222 Takasu A, Sakamoto T, Okada Y. Arterial base excess after CPR: the relationship to CPR duration and the characteristics related to outcome. Resuscitation. 2007;73:394-9. measured arterial base excess after CPR on 87 patients. They reported significantly high BE values in the survivors group and concluded that BE could distinguish survivors from non-survivors, but BE was not found as a predictor for mortality in resuscitated patients. The authors concluded that BE values were well correlated with resuscitation time. In our study, we found higher BE values in survivors in baseline and rewarming periods.

The measurement of the saturation of the brain is a recent method, and previous studies have reported that a decline in the value of rSO2 is a significant predictor for postoperative cognitive dysfunction and prolonged ICU and hospital stays.1212 Yao FS, Tseng CC, Ho CY, Levin SK, Illner P. Cerebral oxygen desaturation is associated with early postoperative neurophychological dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2004;18:552-8.

13 Higami T, Kozawa S, Asada T, et al. Retrograde cerebral perfusion versus selective cerebral perfusion as evaluated by cerebral oxygen saturation during aortic arch reconstruction. Ann Thorac Surg. 1999;67:1091-6.

14 Edmonds HL. Multi-modality neurophysiologic monitoring for cardiac surgery. Heart Surg Forum. 2002;5:225-8.

15 Murkin JM, Adams SJ, Novick RJ, et al. Monitoring brain oxygen saturation during coronary bypass surgery: a randomized, prospective study. Anesth Analg. 2007;104:51-8.
-1616 Ito N, Nanto S, Nagao K, Hatanaka T, Nishiyama K, Kai T. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation on hospital arrival is a potential novel predictor of neurological outcomes at hospital discharge in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2012;83:46-50. The advantage of this method is that the device is not affected by hypothermia or hypotension and real-time measurements are collected using near infrared spectroscopy.1717 Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment and prognosis of coma after head injury. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1976;34(1-4):45-55. Murkin et al.1515 Murkin JM, Adams SJ, Novick RJ, et al. Monitoring brain oxygen saturation during coronary bypass surgery: a randomized, prospective study. Anesth Analg. 2007;104:51-8. monitorized brain oxygen saturation during coronary bypass surgery on 200 patients and reported that patients who had major organ morbidity or mortality had lower rSO2 values. Moreover, the authors reported that length of hospital stay and ICU stay was prolonged with lower rSO2 values. They concluded that in maneuvers during coronary revascularization surgery, pump flow is often decreased and caused a profound decrease in rSO2. The goal of another study made by Slater et al.1111 Slater JP, Guarino T, Stack J, et al. Cerebral oxygen desaturation predicts cognitive decline and longer hospital stay after cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009;87:36-44. was to determine if maintenance of cerebral perfusion with the use of cerebral oximetry monitoring had an impact on early postoperative outcomes. The authors demonstrate that intraoperative rSO2 desaturation is significantly associated with demonstrable neurocognitive decline in a prospectively randomized coronary artery bypass grafting population.

The clinical value of rSO2 was already demonstrated in previous studies.88 Storm C, Leithner C, Krannich A, et al. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation after cardiac arrest in 60 patients - a prospective outcome study. Resuscitation. 2014;85:1037-41.,1616 Ito N, Nanto S, Nagao K, Hatanaka T, Nishiyama K, Kai T. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation on hospital arrival is a potential novel predictor of neurological outcomes at hospital discharge in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2012;83:46-50. Ito et al. investigated the association between rSO2 and neurological outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The authors enrolled 92 patients in their study and found that the overall rate of good neurological outcome was 14%. They classified their patients into three categories and found that 0% of patients with rSO2 ≤ 25%, 22.2% of patients with an rSO2 of 26-40%, and 50% of patients with rSO2 ≥ 40% had good neurological outcomes. The authors concluded that rSO2 on hospital arrival may be a predictive factor for assessing neurological outcome. In another study made by Storm et al.,88 Storm C, Leithner C, Krannich A, et al. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation after cardiac arrest in 60 patients - a prospective outcome study. Resuscitation. 2014;85:1037-41. the authors aimed to investigate the prognostic value of rSO2 on cardiac arrest patients, and they found significantly higher rSO2 values on survivors than non-survivors. They also found that the rSO2 ranges largely overlap between outcome groups, and concluded that the rSO2 values have limited potential to predict poor outcome. They concluded that normal ranges of rSO2 is based on a stable cerebral physiology, but the effects of the impairment of the blood-brain barrier caused by global hypoxia due to cardiac arrest on rSO2 dynamics remains unclear. In our study, we found that the baseline rSO2 value was 67.5 (46-70) and the difference between baseline and rewarming rSO2 value was 0.031 (-0.08 to 0.20) in survivors. In non-survivors, the baseline rSO2 value was 30 (25-65) and the difference between baseline and rewarming rSO2 value was 0.03 (0.014-0.435). Although statistically considerable difference was detected between groups on baseline rSO2 values, no statistical difference was detected on percent changes between baseline and rewarming values of rSO2 (respectively p = 0.003, 0.526).

In conclusion, the rSO2 measurement is simple, and not affected by hypotension or hypothermia; thus, the rSO2 may be a useful predictor for determining the prognosis after CPR.

References

  • 1
    Atwood C, Eisenberg MS, Herlitz J, Rea TD. Incidence of EMS treated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Europe. Resuscitation. 2005;67:75-80.
  • 2
    Nichol G, Thomas E, Callaway CW, et al. Regional variation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest incidence and outcome. JAMA. 2008;300:1423-31.
  • 3
    Peberdy MA, Kaye W, Ornato JP. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation of adults in the hospital: a report of 14,720 cardiac arrests from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2003;58:297-308.
  • 4
    Bouwes A, Binnekade JM, Verbaan BW, et al. Predictive value of neurological examination for early cortical responses to somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with postanoxic coma. J Neurol. 2012;259:537-41.
  • 5
    Maia B, Roque R, Amaral-Silva A, et al. Predicting outcome after cardiopulmonary arrest in therapeutic hypothermia patients: clinical, electrophysiological and imaging prognosticators. Acta Med Port. 2013;26:93-7.
  • 6
    Sandroni C, Cavallaro F, Callaway CW, et al. Predictors of poor neurological outcome in adult comatose survivors of cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Part 2: patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1324-38.
  • 7
    Greer DM, Yang J, Scripko PD, et al. Clinical examination for prognostication in comatose cardiac arrest patients. Resuscitation. 2013;84:1546-51.
  • 8
    Storm C, Leithner C, Krannich A, et al. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation after cardiac arrest in 60 patients - a prospective outcome study. Resuscitation. 2014;85:1037-41.
  • 9
    Booth CM, Boone RH, Tomlinson G, et al. Is this patient dead, vegetative, or severely neurologically impaired? Assessing outcome for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. JAMA. 2004;291:870-9.
  • 10
    Schefold JC, Storm C, Krüger A, Ploner CJ, Hasper D. The Glasgow Coma Score is a predictor of good outcome in cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Resuscitation. 2009;80:658-61.
  • 11
    Slater JP, Guarino T, Stack J, et al. Cerebral oxygen desaturation predicts cognitive decline and longer hospital stay after cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009;87:36-44.
  • 12
    Yao FS, Tseng CC, Ho CY, Levin SK, Illner P. Cerebral oxygen desaturation is associated with early postoperative neurophychological dysfunction in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2004;18:552-8.
  • 13
    Higami T, Kozawa S, Asada T, et al. Retrograde cerebral perfusion versus selective cerebral perfusion as evaluated by cerebral oxygen saturation during aortic arch reconstruction. Ann Thorac Surg. 1999;67:1091-6.
  • 14
    Edmonds HL. Multi-modality neurophysiologic monitoring for cardiac surgery. Heart Surg Forum. 2002;5:225-8.
  • 15
    Murkin JM, Adams SJ, Novick RJ, et al. Monitoring brain oxygen saturation during coronary bypass surgery: a randomized, prospective study. Anesth Analg. 2007;104:51-8.
  • 16
    Ito N, Nanto S, Nagao K, Hatanaka T, Nishiyama K, Kai T. Regional cerebral oxygen saturation on hospital arrival is a potential novel predictor of neurological outcomes at hospital discharge in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Resuscitation. 2012;83:46-50.
  • 17
    Teasdale G, Jennett B. Assessment and prognosis of coma after head injury. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1976;34(1-4):45-55.
  • 18
    Nolan JP, Morley PT, Hoek TL, Hickey RW. Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. An advisory statement by the Advancement Life support Task Force of the International Liaison committee on Resuscitation. Resuscitation. 2003;57:231-5.
  • 19
    Morrison LJ, Deakin CD, Morley PT, et al. 2010 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations. Circulation. 2010;122:345-421.
  • 20
    Mullie A, Verstringe P, Buylaert W, et al. Predictive value of Glasgow coma score for awakening after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Cerebral Resuscitation Study Group of the Belgian Society for Intensive Care. Lancet. 1988;1:137-40.
  • 21
    Wijdicks EF, Hijdra A, Young GB, Bassetti CL, Wiebe S. Practice parameter: prediction of outcome in comatose survivors after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (an evidence-based review): report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2006;67:203-10.
  • 22
    Takasu A, Sakamoto T, Okada Y. Arterial base excess after CPR: the relationship to CPR duration and the characteristics related to outcome. Resuscitation. 2007;73:394-9.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Jul-Aug 2017

History

  • Received
    14 Oct 2015
  • Accepted
    20 July 2016
Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia R. Professor Alfredo Gomes, 36, 22251-080 Botafogo RJ Brasil, Tel: +55 21 2537-8100, Fax: +55 21 2537-8188 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: bjan@sbahq.org