Eertmans W et al. – The study investigated the benefits of bispectral index (BIS) values equal to zero (BIS 0) as better indicators for neurological outcome after out–of–hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) at a 100% specificity. It was concluded that outcomes after OHCA were better predicted by a prolonged duration with bilateral BIS 0 value compared to a single observation.

Methods

• A total of 77 successfully resuscitated OHCA patients were treated with targeted temperature followed by rewarming and unilateral and bilateral BIS 0 values were calculated.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were made using the total duration with BIS 0 values to determine poor neurological outcome.

Results

• In all, 39% patients showed at least 1 BIS 0 value during the first 48 hours after admission, out of which 20% had a good cerebral performance category and 80% had poor neurological outcome with 62% sensitivity and 84% specificity.
• ROC analysis showed poor neurological outcome with 63% sensitivity and 100% specificity.