Abstract 235: The Glasgow Motor Score Before Induction of Therapeutic Hypothermia Is an Independent Predictor of Good Outcome in Cardiac Arrest

Abstract

Background: With the recent introduction of therapeutic hypothermia, the application of sedation becomes necessary in cardiac arrest patients. Therefore early prediction of neurologic outcome in these patients is challenging problem. Nevertheless neurologic examination including the Glasgow coma scale should be basis for decision making. So, we investigated the usefulness of the Glasgow motor score before induction of therapeutic hypothermia for outcome prediction in survivors of cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Methods: Between March 2009 and July 2011, patients who successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest and treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia were included in this study. Data were collected by local post-cardiac arrest care registry. Neurologic outcome was assessed with Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) at hospital discharge and good neurologic outcome was defined CPC score of 1 and 2. Results: Total 89 patients were treated with therapeutic hypothermia during study period. Among these patients, 39 were good neurologic outcome and 50 were poor neurologic outcome. The value for prediction of good outcome was as follows: sensitivity 53.8%, specificity 96.0%, PPV 91.3%, NPV 72.7% and AUC 0.749. Conclusions: The results of this study show that the Glasgow motor score > 1 before induction of therapeutic hypothermia is an independent predictor of good outcome in patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia. Thus, the patients with the Glasgow motor score > 1 soon after ROSC should be treated aggressively including therapeutic hypothermia.