Advances in Post Resuscitation Care:Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia

Authors

  • Gerasimos Gavrielatos
  • Antonis S. Manolis
  • Fotios Kardaras

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2015/hc.v3i1%20sup.101

Abstract

Out of hospital cardiac arrest remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity despite progress in resuscitative practices. The number of survivors with severe neurological
impairment at hospital discharge is similarly dismal. Recently, much attention has been directed toward the use of mild therapeutic hypothermia in postresuscitation care of comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. Two randomized, controlled clinical trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that after resuscitation mild hypothermia lowers mortality, improves neurological outcome after successfully treated cardiac arrest, and is recommended by the 2005 update guidelines of International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation and European Resuscitation Council (ERC). In the present article pathophysiological mechanisms of hypothermia, cooling methods and potential side effects are briefly discussed. Questions regarding implementation of therapeutic hypothermia recommendations in every day clinical practice and future investigation are also addressed.

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Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 sup (2008)

Section

Athens Cardiology Update 2008

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