What assessments may be included as part of a multimodal approach to neuroprognostication in a comatose post-cardiac arrest patient?

In the context of neuroprognostication for a comatose post-cardiac arrest patient, the inclusion of certain biomarkers can provide valuable insights into the extent of brain injury and potential recovery outcomes. Biomarkers such as serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) and S100B proteins can indicate neuronal damage and inflammatory processes, thus offering important prognostic information about the patient's neurological status. By utilizing biomarkers, clinicians can enhance their understanding of the patient's brain function and support a more comprehensive assessment of neurological prognosis.

While brain computed tomography can provide structural imaging information, it may not effectively assess the functional prognosis of the brain, especially in terms of predicting outcomes in comatose patients. Additionally, techniques like quantitative pupillometry and somatosensory evoked potentials can be useful, but they may not be universally integrated into all multimodal prognostic approaches. Each of these methods has its strengths; however, biomarkers specifically address the biochemistry of neuronal injury and recovery, making them a critical component of neuroprognostication in the given clinical scenario.