Neurologic prognosis after cardiopulmonary arrest

Abstract

Of 63 adult survivors of cardiopulmonary arrest, 19 (30%) had seizures after admission to the hospital. Eleven had more than 1 type of seizure. Myoclonic seizures began within 12 h of the arrest in 8 patients, and after 3 or more days in 4 patients. Only 2 (17%) patients with myoclonic seizures survived. Partial seizures usually began within 12 h of the arrest and were controllable with anticonvulsants; 4 of 12 patients survived. Two of 4 patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures survived; 1 of 4 with shivering lived. Overall, patients with seizures had a survival rate of 32% (6 of 19), compared with 43% for patients without seizures. None of the survivors had recurrent seizures within 6 mo. after hospital admission.