The neuroprotective role of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVES Therapeutic hypothermia following cardiorespiratory arrest has been demonstrated to have cardio- and neuroprotective effects, resulting in improved survival and better neurological outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia following cardiorespiratory arrest. METHODS A prospective, 10-month observational study of patients admitted to an intensive care unit and undergoing therapeutic hypothermia after cardiorespiratory arrest was undertaken. Therapeutic hypothermia was induced by cold fluid administration and body surface cooling in patients admitted no more than 12 hours after resuscitation from cardiorespiratory arrest. A target temperature of 33ºC was maintained for 24 hours. RESULTS Overall, 12 patients were included (median age 64 years, 58% male). Half of the cardiorespiratory arrests were in-hospital. The median first-day Charlson Index, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were of 2.9, 11 and 24.5, respectively. The intensive care unit mortality rate was 42% (N=5). Five of the 7 surviving patients recovered their pre-cardiorespiratory arrest neurological status. Hypothermia was initiated 120 min (median) after recovery of spontaneous circulation. Most patients (75%) required vasopressor support. During the first 3 days after cardiorespiratory arrest and therapeutic hypothermia, a progressive SOFA score decrease (median 11 on day 0, 10 on day 1 and 7 on day 2) was observed. DISCUSSION In this study, therapeutic hypothermia was applied to all post-cardiorespiratory arrest patients and demonstrated good neurological outcome in surviving patients.