Prognostic significance of specific EEG patterns after Cardiac Arrest in a Lisbon Cohort

Abstract Objective To evaluate if EEG patterns considered highly malignant are reliable predictors not only of poor neurological outcome but also reliable predictors of death. Methods Retrospectively, EEGs from Cardiac Arrest (CA) patients of two teaching hospitals in Lisbon were classified into 3 groups: highly malignant, malignant, and benign groups. Outcome was assessed at 6 months after CA by CPC (Cerebral Performance Categories) scale. We evaluated the accuracy of these patterns to predict poor neurological outcome and death. Results We included 106 patients for analysis. All patients with a highly malignant EEG (n= 37) presented a poor neurological outcome. Those patterns were also associated with death. Malignant EEG patterns were not associated with poor neurological outcome. Benign EEG patterns were associated with good neurological recovery (p Conclusion Highly malignant EEG patterns were strongly associated with poor neurological outcome and can be considered to be predictors of death. Significance This study increased the knowledge about the value of EEG as a tool in outcome prediction of patients after cardiac arrest.