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To investigate the relationship between somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) amplitudes and neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest.

We prospectively studied SSEPs, recorded 24 hours to 4 days after cardiac arrest, in patients with targeted temperature management. SSEP amplitude was defined pragmatically as the highest short-latency amplitude of 4 cortical recordings (2 per side, CP3/CP4 vs Fz) at least 4.5 ms after the spinal SSEP. Cerebral performance category (CPC) was determined upon intensive care unit discharge. CPC 1–3 was defined as good, CPC 4–5 as poor outcome.

Of 318 patients, 25 had incomplete recordings, no reproducible spinal SSEP, or high noise level. Of the remaining 293 patients, 137 (47%) had poor and 156 (53%) good outcome. The lowest amplitude in a survivor with good outcome was 0.62 μV. All 78 patients with lower amplitudes had poor outcome …