Authors: Shashank Patil, Saqib Parwez / Editors: Kris Moothian Pillay, Michael Perry / Reviewer: Rebecca Ford, Ciaran Mackle / Code: / Published: 16/09/2022 / Reviewed: 16/03/2026
This module provides an overview of neuroprognostication following cardiac arrest, beginning with the current prevalence of cardiac arrest and the Chain of Survival framework. It explores the key factors influencing survival to hospital discharge as well as multimodal evaluation techniques and the clinical criteria used in brain stem death determination.
Learning Objectives:
- Current Prevalence of Cardiac Arrest
- Concept of Chain of Survival
- Factors influencing survival to hospital discharge
- Principles of Prognostication Strategy
- Multimodal evaluation technique
- Brain Stem Death
References
- University of Warwick. Annual Epidemiology and Outcomes Reports (OHCAO). Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes Registry: 2025. University of Warwick, 2024.
- Nolan JP, Sandroni C, et al. European Resuscitation Council and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine guidelines 2025: post-resuscitation care. Resuscitation. 2025 Oct; Vol 215: sup 1.
- Petrie J, Easton, S, et al. Hospital costs of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated in intensive care; a single centre evaluation using the national tariff-based system. BMJ Open 2015;5:e005797. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005797
- Eveson L, Vizcaychipi M, Patil S. Role of Bispectral index monitoring and burst suppression in prognostication following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a systematic review protocol. Systematic Reviews 2017 (6):191
- Resuscitation Council, UK. Resuscitation to Recovery: A national framework to improve care of people with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in England. March 2017.
- Resuscitation Council UK. Consensus Paper on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in England.
- Resuscitation Council UK. Systems Saving Lives Guidelines. 27 October 2025.
- Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC). National Cardiac Arrest Audit: Public Report 202223 Summary Statistics. 2024.
- Farag M, Patil S. Prognostication Following OutofHospital Cardiac Arrest. ICU Management & Practice. 2017;17(2).
- Tsou PY, Kurbedin J, Chen YS, et al. Accuracy of point-of-care focused echocardiography in predicting outcome of resuscitation in cardiac arrest patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Resuscitation. 2017 May;114:92-99.
- Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC). A Code of Practice for the diagnosis and confirmation of death. 2025.
- Grand J, Kjaergaard J, Bro-Jeppesen J, et al. Cardiac output, heart rate and stroke volume during targeted temperature management after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: association with mortality and cause of death. Resuscitation. 2019; 142:136-143
- Grand J, Hassager C, Schmidt H, et al. Serial assessments of cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen saturation in comatose patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Crit Care. 2023; 27:410
