Waking up sooner: EEG-guided early cessation of sedation after cardiac arrest

This editorial discusses a pilot study evaluating EEG-guided early discontinuation of sedation and temperature management after cardiac arrest in patients with favorable early EEG patterns. The intervention halved mechanical ventilation duration, ICU stay, and sedation exposure without increasing complications or worsening neurological outcomes. The authors argue that, following abandonment of routine hypothermia, prolonged sedation may be unnecessary in patients with mild hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury. While the study supports the feasibility and safety of early awakening strategies, its small, non-randomized design limits conclusions about efficacy. Ongoing trials and emerging ultra-early prognostic tools may enable more individualized post-cardiac arrest care.