Indication of induced hyperthermia using somatosensory evoked potential in patients presenting with post-cardiac arrest syndrome

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Patients likely to remain in coma in spite of a return of spontaneous circulation were examined for the presence or absence of somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) N20 before the induction of hypothermia. Prognosis was poor for all of the patients without SSEP N20. Patients with SSEP N20, on other hand, showed improvement of consciousness at a high rate. An examination to determine the presence or absence of SSEP N20 before the induction of hypothermia may be a reliable and efficient way to select cases in whom the hypothermia will be effective. The measurement of SSEP N20 before induced hypothermia and at 24 hours after a return of spontaneous circulation may be very useful for identifing the patients in whom a favorable outcome can be expected after induced hypothermia. The measurement of SSEP N20 at 24hours after a return of spontaneous circulation may allow us to identify the patients not likely to benefit from induced hypothermia.