The significance of hypothermia in preserving ischemic myocardium.
The clinical use of mild hypothermia to preserve ischemic cardiac and cerebral tissue continues to grow in popularity. This is a result of the known fact that hypothermia reduces myocardial oxygen demands more than any other intervention. The Advanced Life Support (ALS) Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) made the following recommendations a year ago, in October 2002: "Unconscious adult patients with spontaneous circulation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest should be cooled to 32 degrees C to 34 degrees C for 12 to 24 hours when the initial rhythm was VF," or in-hospital even when arrest is due to other rhythms. Therapeutic use of hypothermia is in progress.
Futterman
Laurie G
LG
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Fla., USA.
Lemberg
Louis
L
D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*