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Table 1 Cerebral Performance Category

From: Reliability of the Cerebral Performance Category to classify neurological status among survivors of ventricular fibrillation arrest: a cohort study

1. Good Cerebral Performance (Normal Life)

Conscious, alert, able to work and lead a normal life. May have minor psychological or neurologic deficits (mild dysphasia, nonincapacitating hemiparesis, or minor cranial nerve abnormalities).

2. Moderate Cerebral Disability (Disabled but Independent)

Conscious. Sufficient cerebral function for part-time work in sheltered environment or independent activities of daily life (dress, travel by public transportation, food preparation). May have hemiplegia, seizures, ataxia, dysarthria, dysphasia, or permanent memory or mental changes.

3. Severe Cerebral Disability (Conscious but Disabled and Dependent)

Conscious; dependent on others for daily support (in an institution or at home with exceptional family effort). Has at least limited cognition. This category includes a wide range of cerebral abnormalities, from patients who are ambulatory but have severe memory disturbances or dementia precluding independent existence to those who are paralyzed and can communicate only with their eyes, as in the locked-in syndrome.

4. Coma/Vegetative State (Unconscious)

Unconscious, unaware of surroundings, no cognition. No verbal or psychologic interaction with environment.

5. Brain Death (Certified brain dead or dead by traditional criteria)

Certified brain dead or dead by traditional criteria.