[What is the outcome of cardiac arrest survivors?]

Abstract

In spite of recent advances, cardiac arrest remains a serious illness for which survival rate stays very low. If prehospital death remains the major problem, in-hospital death is also important. Two thirds of deaths in intensive care are the result of initial brain damage. After discharge, risk of recurrence for victims of sudden death is important and requires specific care and sometimes the implant of a cardiac defibrillator. In survivors, medium and long-term survival is satisfactory and close to that of patients with similar age and comorbidities that have not suffered cardiac arrest. The << minor >> cerebral sequels remain unknown and their impact on quality of life needs further attention.