So
matosensory evoked potentials(SEPs) and EEG are reliable outco
me predictors of co
ma after cardiac arrest (CA). Nevertheless, only few
multicentric studies are available. Ai
m of the study was to evaluate the prognostic value of EEG and SEPs association in post-anoxic co
matose patients at different recording ti
me fro
m cardiac arrest (CA) in an Italian
multicentric study. Co
matose patients after CA treated with TH were included. EEG and SEPs were recorded within 12 h and at 72 h after CA. EEG was classified into “non-continuous” and “continuous”. SEPs were dichoto
mized into “bilaterally absent” (BA) and “present”. Neurologic outco
me was evaluated at 6
months by GOS: “awakening”(GOS 3–5) was considered good outco
me. 83 patients were included to date.
“Continuous” EEG pattern at 12 h always predicted good outcome, “non-continuous” pattern at 72 h always predicted poor outcome. BA SEPs always predicted poor outcome. Early “continuous” EEG pattern was always associated with present SEPs. SEPs provide a specific and time-independent predictor of poor outcome. EEG provide a specific and time-dependent predictor of good outcome (at <12 h) and poor outcome (at 72 h). Early “continuous” EEG and BA SEPs are never associated together. Combined EEG/SEPs recordings are a useful tool for reliable prognostication both of good and poor outcome in comatose patients treated with TH.