The bispectral index during an anaphylactic circulatory arrest.

A 47-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction on induction of anaesthesia, resulting in circulatory arrest. A spontaneous cardiac output appeared after 25 minutes of chest compression and she regained consciousness three hours later, with no neurological deficit. A Bispectral Index monitor demonstrated values greater than 40 throughout the whole period of resuscitation. Possible implications for this observation are discussed.