Early cerebral prognosis of anoxic encephalopathy using brain energy metabolism.

Cerebral arteriovenous differences in oxygen content [C(a-v)O2] and glucose content [C(a-v)gluc] were used to predict outcome in 20 patients who remained comatose after resuscitation for cardiopulmonary arrest. Cerebral prognosis was good when C(a-v)O2 values were greater than 1.8 mMol/L and the oxygen glucose index (OGI) was greater than 85%. Our results suggest that cerebral recovery is linked with increased oxidation associated with the beginning of nonglycolytic metabolism.