title: Keeping cool: a case for hypothermia after cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Mission Viejo, CA 92691-6426, USA. Badermk@aol.com
authors.forename: Mary Kay
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bader
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rovzar
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Winokur
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cline
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schiffman
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator