Neuropsychological and neurological sequelae of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and the estimated need for neurorehabilitation: a prospective pilot study.

Background: Diffuse brain injury is a key component of post-cardiac arrest syndrome reported in 30-80% of survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). It is responsible for a high mortality rate, and is a common cause of cognitive and neurological deficits and disability. Symptom variability and dynamics and the rehabilitation potential remain poorly understood.