Fig. 1

Decision tree. Pathway 1 represents current care of all patients in this study. Pathway 2 and 3 show the estimated flow of patients assuming withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment 24 or 72 hours after cardiac arrest, respectively, in the case of an unfavorable electroencephalography (EEG) pattern at 24 hours. Patients in pathway 2 and 3 with a favorable, intermediate, or un-assessable EEG pattern at 24 hours followed the pathway of current care. The fractions indicate the numbers of patients that were allocated to a specific branch of the tree. Prices indicate estimated costs per patient. In scenario 1 (current care) these costs consist of the costs of stay in the intensive care unit and general ward, plus the costs of a contingent performed somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP). In scenario 2 and 3 (pathway 2 and pathway 3), the costs consist of the costs of stay in the intensive care unit and general ward plus the costs of the performed EEG and the costs of a contingent performed SSEP