Abstract

CASSIANI-MIRANDA, Carlos Arturo et al. Brain injury after cardiac arrest. Acta Neurol Colomb. [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.4, pp.255-265. ISSN 0120-8748.

Brain injury after cardiac arrest is a common cause of morbidity and mortality, hence the importance of understanding its pathophysiological mechanisms and its relation to the impact of resuscitation and prognosis of patients. The loss of cellular integrity triggers the release of glutamate thus generating excitotoxicity associated with the decreased of modulatory neurotransmitters levels and the elevation of intracellular calcium thense causing lesions in different brain areas and generating cognitive symptoms related to significant impact on quality of life. The Cerebral Performance Category is the gold standard for the assessment of neurological recovery after cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) and neurological examination remains one of the most reliable factors to determine the extent of the injury and neurological outcome in CPA victims. Evidence shows that mild induced hypothermia may reduce injury, improving survival and functional neurologicals outcomes in comatose survivors of CPA. Brain injury after CPA is an important area for research.

Keywords : Hypoxia-ischemia; Brain; Heart Arrest; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Anoxo Ischaemic encephalopathy (MeSH).

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