Maayke Hunfeld

19 Introduction The aim of this thesis: - To investigate the current practice regarding neuro-prognostication and decision making in children after CA. - To study the short- and long-term neurocognitive outcome in a homogeneous cohort of children after OHCA, in a prospective longitudinal way, using repeated and validated measures Chapter 2 provides an overview of several neuromonitoring methods (neurological exam, brain imaging, neurophysiology and biomarkers) and their potential role in neuro-prognostication in children early after IHCA and OHCA. Chapter 3 describes the results of a survey, performed among European pediatric intensivists and pediatric neurologists, regarding the treatment, prediction and decision making in children with a depressed level of consciousness after IHCA and OHCA. In chapter 4 the timing and causes of death are evaluated in children following ROC after OHCA in our hospital between 2012 and 2017. Chapter 5 investigates whether early MRI with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) contributes to the prediction of both the short and long-term outcome in the indidual patient after OHCA. In chapter 6 the association between shockable rhythms and long-term outcome after pediatric OHCA in Rotterdam, over an 18-year period, is explored. Chapter 7 presents the neuropsychological outcome of OHCA survivors 3 and 24 months after the arrest. In chapter 8 the results of the studies are discussed and placed in a broader perspective. In chapter 9 the results are summarized in English and Dutch. 1