Neurological outcome of prolonged coma survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Nine adult survivors of out-of-hospital presumed cardiogenic cardiac arrest, who remained unresponsive for longer than their third hospital day and who eventually were discharged from the acute care hospital, are reported. Their neurological outcome fell into three distinct categories: (a) a persistent vegetative state, (b) able to follow some simple commands but requiring total nursing care, and (c) able to perform most activities of daily living but unemployable because of marked organic deficits.