Keeping cool: a case for hypothermia after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Cessation of circulation during cardiac arrest causes critical end-organ ischemia. Although the neurological consequences of cardiopulmonary arrest can be catastrophic, an aggressive "push fast and push hard" resuscitation technique maintains blood flow until the return of spontaneous circulation. However, reperfusion to the cerebrum leads to cellular chaos and further neurological injury. Use of moderate hypothermia after cardiac arrest mediates these cellular and chemical processes, reducing the impact of the arrest and reperfusion phenomena. A 43-year-old man had 2 asystolic arrests with 20 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a result of massive, multiple pulmonary emboli. After the cardiac arrest, the patient was comatose and posturing. The 2005 American Heart Association guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation were used along with moderate hypothermia in an attempt to minimize the neurological consequences of the cardiopulmonary arrest and to optimize the patient's outcome.
Bader
Mary Kay
MK
Mission Viejo, CA 92691-6426, USA. Badermk@aol.com
Rovzar
Michael
M
Baumgartner
Laurie
L
Winokur
Robert
R
Cline
Jon
J
Schiffman
George
G
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator