Post-Cardiac Arrest Syndrome

Abstract

Post-resuscitation syndrome gathers data on patients who regain spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest. Two conditions are common after cardiac arrest: early organ failure and anoxic brain injury. Organ failure may be multiple, but hemodynamic failure (due to vasoplegia and/or myocardic dysfunction) is the most commonly observed feature associated with post-cardiac arrest. Severity of such organ failure is extremely variable but may lead to refractory multi-organ failure. Anoxic brain injury may lead not only to memory disturbances but also vegetative state. Brain death occurs in about 7% of cases. Treatment of post-resuscitation syndrome involves standard procedures of organ failures treatment. The condition that triggers cardiac arrest (especially a culprit coronary occlusion) should be immediately diagnosed and treated. Targeted temperature management is the only treatment with enough evidence to be used in daily practice. However, the mortality rate in intensive care unit patients remains very high, occurring in 60% of cases.