Serum neuron-specific enolase predicting neurological outcomes post-cardiac arrest: a review of the literature.

Background: Coronary artery disease is a major problem in the United States, affecting 785 000 individuals, with the most serious event being a cardiopulmonary arrest. Families of post-cardiac arrest patients are left with difficult decisions to be made.

Objective: This article is a comprehensive literature review examining the current research available to health care professionals about the biomarker serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and its use in predicting neurological outcomes in comatose post-cardiac arrest patients.

Methods: Using the bibliographic databases CINAHL, Plus, EBSCOhost, MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, H. W. Wilson, Cochrane, and NEXUS, from the period 2003 to 2013, revealed there is minimal research or literature on NSE predicting neurological outcomes post-cardiac arrest.

Results: Research on this particular biomarker is relatively new, and more research is necessary to establish an adequate amount of support. At this time, an exact NSE cutoff value or its exact ability to help predict neurological outcomes is unable to be established, and further research is necessary.

Discussion: This literature review should provide a basic understanding of NSE and its ability to help predict neurological outcomes of post-cardiac arrest patients earlier. The research provides evidence that NSE should be considered in determining outcomes. However, more research is necessary before nursing practice is changed and implemented into patient care.