Objective: To explore the clinical and imaging features of anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (AIE) patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Methods: A total of 28 qualified AIE patients during the last decade from Xiangya Hospital, Central South University were recruited and analyzed retrospectively.
Results: The symptoms of status epilepticus, acute posthypoxic myoclonus, Lance-Adams syndrome, subarachnoid hemorrhage and cognitive deficits were observed. The abnormal findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), involving neocortex, basal ganglia and para-ventricular white matter, were also recorded. During the early phase of disease, swollen cortex was present on MRI/CT. However, encephalatrophy appeared during the late phase. The more severe symptoms were observed, the more foci were present on MRI/CT.
Conclusion: The etiologies of AIE patients are heterogeneous after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The clinical symptoms and imaging studies are of prognostic significance.