Prediction of short-term and long-term outcomes after cardiac arrest: a prospective multivariate approach combining biochemical, clinical, electrophysiological, and neuropsychological investigations.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic accuracy of biochemical, clinical, electrophysiological, and neuropsychological investigations in predicting outcomes after cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Intensive care unit of the Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center, Hamburg, Germany. PATIENTS: A total of 80 patients (mean age, 63.79 +/- 15.85 yrs) after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. INTERVENTIONS: Serial blood samples (days 2-4), clinical examinations (days 2 and 4), sensory-evoked potentials (day 4), and neuropsychological assessments (