Observations on comatose survivors of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with generalized myoclonus

Abstract

Background: There is only limited data on improvements of critical medical care is resulting in a better outcome of comatose survivors of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with generalized myoclonus. There is also a paucity of data on the temporal dynamics of electroenephalographic (EEG) abnormalities in these patients. Methods: Serial EEG examinations were done in 50 comatose survivors of CPR with generalized myoclonus seen over an 8 years period. Results: Generalized myoclonus occurred within 24 hours after CPR. It was associated with burstsuppression EEG (n = 42), continuous generalized epileptiform discharges (n = 5), alpha-coma-EEG (n = 52), and low amplitude (10 μV