Implementation of a Hospital-wide Protocol for Induced Hypothermia Following Successfully Resuscitated Cardiac Arrest

Crit Pathw Cardiol. 2010 Dec;9(4):216-20. doi: 10.1097/HPC.0b013e3181f8228d.

Abstract

Permanent neurologic impairment following cardiac arrest is often severely debilitating, even after successful resuscitation. Therapeutic hypothermia decreases anoxic brain injury and subsequent cognitive deficits. Current practice guidelines recommend therapeutic hypothermia in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. To address the multifacets of therapeutic hypothermia, we assembled a multidisciplinary task force including members from various specialties to create an evidence-based guideline with transparency across disciplines and consistency of care. We describe our institutional guidelines for the initiation and management of induced hypothermia in patients successfully resuscitated from a cardiac arrest.

MeSH terms

  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / adverse effects
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Coma / etiology
  • Coma / therapy
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Heart Arrest / complications*
  • Heart Arrest / mortality
  • Heart Arrest / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypothermia, Induced* / instrumentation
  • Hypothermia, Induced* / methods
  • Hypoxia, Brain / etiology
  • Hypoxia, Brain / therapy*
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
  • Life Support Systems / instrumentation*
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods*
  • Patient Selection
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Survival Rate