Cognitive dysfunction following cardiac arrest.

Recent work that has been done in cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation has focused on the area of brain resuscitation and the prevention of neurologic deficits. The Glascow Coma Scale and Glascow-Pittsburgh Scale are useful clinical tools in the acute stages of survival; however, they fail to provide sufficient data relative to cognitive disturbances. The Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale applied to the postcardiac arrest patient may be helpful in guiding therapeutic nursing interventions and nursing research in the Critical Care environment.