Possibilities of post-resuscitation neuroprotection in 2019

Post-resuscitation brain injury forms the leading cause of death of patients after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation that explains why post-resuscitation neuroprotection is the most important part of post-resuscitation therapy. The goals of the neuroprotection tools available today are preventing the evolution of primary and formation of secondary brain injury. We are going to summarize the neuroprotective possibilities that we can reach today. We will discuss the role of pharmacologic strategies including sedation, the modalities of upholding brain perfusion, the monitoring of proper hemodynamic variables and the practice of targeted temperature management. It is very important to avoid hypo- and hyperoxia, to keep normocapnia, normoglycemia and to control seizures during the management of post-cardiac arrest patients. There is still a lack of evidence to prove which pharmacologic agent may be effective in postresuscitation neuroprotection, however, there are some promising results regarding thiamine. Hemodynamic management guided by higher level hemodynamic monitoring may be beneficial in enhancing brain perfusion but more clinical studies are needed to investigate its usefulness. Targeted temperature management constitutes the main element of post-resuscitation neuroprotection, however, the details of its implementation raise several questions.