[Prognosis of patients who recovered after an episode of sudden death].

Objectives: Sudden death constitutes a major sanitary problem with high mortality and serious neurological complications. The objective of this study was to analyze the prognosis and the characteristics of patients who initially recovered after an episode of cardiac arrest and who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Method: We retrospectively studied the clinical characteristics and outcome of 65 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit during a 3 years period with aborted sudden death.

Results: 65 patients, 44 (67.7%) men and 21 (32.3%) women. Middle ages 69.1 +/- 13.9. 29 (44.6%) out of hospital and 36 (55.4%) into hospital sudden death. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was <10 minutes in 28 cases (43.1%), and > 10 minutes in 37 (56.9%). 36 (55.4%) of all sudden deaths were of cardiac origin. 37 patients (56.9%) died and 28 (43.1%) survived the episode. It was LET in 11 cases (16.9%). 29 (44.6%) of all had post- anoxic encephalopathy and most died before discharge from ICU. Of 28 survivors, 5 patients were discharged alive with post-anoxic encephalopathy (17.8%) and 23 were discharged without neurological disturbances (82.2%). This was more frequent when sudden death was into hospital (p 0.009) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was < 10 minutes (p 0.045).

Conclusions: High number of the patients admitted to a Intensive Care unit with aborted sudden death died during ICU stay. Many patients had post-anoxic encephalopathy and most of these died. So, up to 35% of the patients admitted after an episode of cardiac arrest were discharged alive and without severe neurological damage.