Prognosis of Cortical Blindness Following Cardiac Arrest in Children

Abstract

Three patients between the ages of 2 and 3 years are described, in whom severe neuropsychiatric deficits, cortical blindness in particular, which followed cardiac arrest were largely dissipated over long follow-up periods. The degree of recovery from postarrest cortical blindness cannot be immediately gauged, but absolute pessimism is unwarranted. Total body cooling following cardiac arrest is stressed, as are other routine measures in the management of these patients.