A questionnaire was sent to 97 Austrian intensive care units to define the current practises of predicting neurologic outcome in patients with anoxic encephalopathy after cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. All relevant prognostic predictors, such as clinical scales, electrophysiological techniques and laboratory tests were included to examine if these procedures influence the decision to withdraw life support. The answers of 68 (70%) units were collected and analysed. The results show that tests such as somatosensory evoked potential of the determination of brain cell-specific cytosolic enzymes are without any practical importance in Austria. In addition, the methods of reducing life support were evaluated. According to the controversial discussion in the literature, there is no common approach to this problem, especially in the question of withdrawing controlled mechanical ventilation. The result of our survey show, that there is a need for general guidelines to determine the prognosis and the methods of withdrawing life support which could be used in all intensive care units regardless of their size and technical infrastructure.