Prognostic value of electrographic postanoxic status epilepticus in comatose cardiac-arrest survivors in the therapeutic hypothermia era.

Background: The independent prognostic significance of postanoxic status epilepticus (PSE) has not been evaluated prospectively since the introduction of therapeutic hypothermia. We studied 1-year functional outcomes and their determinants in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest (CA), with special attention to PSE.

Methods: 106 comatose CA survivors admitted to the intensive care unit in 2005-2010 were included in a prospective observational study.