ID 67 – Relationship between the presence of n70 and the long-term functional outcome in postanoxic cardiac arrest

Abstract

Objective Use of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs) in critical patients is widening. Relationship between N20-SSEP and neurological prognosis is well known, but N70 relevance is still unclear. N70-SSEP presence might be related to prognosis because of its correlation to changes in cortical perfusion. We aim to analyze the validity of the presence or absence of N70-SSEP with functional outcome in patients after cardiac arrest admitted to our Critical Care Units (CCU). Methods We conducted retrospective study including patients >18 years-old with postanoxic cardiac arrest (January/2010–July/2013). Bilateral N70-SSEP result (presence/absence) in CCU and long-term functional outcome were recorded. We measured outcome at 6–12 months by modified Glasgow Coma Scale (mGCS), considering good outcome score of 4–5 and poor outcome score of 1–3. Results Among 54 patients: 82.4% with bilateral N70-SSEP presence had good outcome. 89.2% with N70 absence had poor outcome. Bilateral N70-SSEP has a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 91% for good functional outcome. Conclusion Our results suggest that the determination of bilateral N70-SSEP could be a good prognostic marker of long-term functional outcome in patients that have suffered a postanoxic cardiac arrest. N70-SSEP may condition a better management of this patients during the acute phase.