Protective hypothermia : an old therapy with a new perspective

Abstract EN

Therapeutic hypothermia (protective hypothermia) known to have beneficial effects since ancient ages but interest was renewed after two land mark publication a decade ago.

Post cardiac arrest patients survival as well as quality of life depends on neurological outcome.

Mild induced hypothermia is recommended for improv¬ing the neurological status of these patients.

All acute care physician, nurses and emergency medical services personals should be aware of it.

We report a case of post cardiac arrest, had improved neurological status with mild therapeutic hypothermia.

Case : A Young female patient had perioperative cardiac arrest, immediate resuscitation lead to return of spontaneous circulation in 6 minutes.

Her post resusci¬tation Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) was 5.

We induced therapeutic hypothermia ; patient needed sedation and chemical muscle relaxant.

After 24 hours allowed slow rewarming.

On day 4 her GCS improved to 14, and she was extubated on day 6.

She had mild cognitive disorder but functionally independent.

Transferred to ward on day 11 and subsequently discharged home.

Conclusion : Mild induced therapeutic hypothermia improves neurological status of post cardiac arrest patients ; but it has adverse effect of increased risk for infection, arrhythmia and electrolyte disorders.