Assessment of Brain Damage Using Monitoring of Cerebral Oximetry Dynamics in Patients After Cardiac Arrest

What this Trial Is About

Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in Europe, and effective treatment includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). The study focuses on patients who have experienced a primary out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and are unconscious after return of spontaneous circulation. It aims to investigate whether simple tests can cause changes in brain oxygen levels and whether these changes align with other methods used to assess neurological outcomes and brain damage. Participants will have a device placed to continuously monitor cerebral oxygen saturation throughout their hospital stay. Two tests will be performed: the first involves a controlled, gradual infusion of a drug (norepinephrine) to raise blood pressure and increase blood flow to the brain, given immediately upon admission and then repeated at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after admission. The second test involves passive elevation of the lower limbs to temporarily increase cardiac output and brain blood flow, performed at the same time points. During the study, patients will be observed closely in the intensive care unit, with monitoring of cerebral oxygen saturation and other clinical parameters such as blood pressure, carbon dioxide levels, hemoglobin levels, sedation depth, and body temperature. Researchers will assess changes in cerebral oxygen saturation from enrollment through two days after admission. The study will not use the test results to change patient care, but will compare these findings to other neurological assessments to better understand brain damage after cardiac arrest. The total participation period covers the hospitalization and monitoring within the first 72 hours after admission.

Assessment of Brain Damage Using Monitoring of Cerebral Oximetry Dynamics in Patients After Cardiac Arrest