Postanoxic coma: prognosis after therapeutic hypothermia

Postanoxic coma, also known as anoxic-ischemic coma, is a state of unconsciousness caused by global anoxia of the brain. The most common cause is primary cardiac arrest followed by successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Other causes include primary respiratory arrest, near-drowning, strangulation, and prolonged severe hypotension. Patients may recover consciousness after variable periods of time, or remain unconscious indefinitely. The main focus of this thesis is on prediction of outcome in patients with postanoxic coma who are treated with hypothermia after CPR. Furthermore, less investigated clinical variables such as myoclonus and status epilepticus after CPR were subject of research.