[Nursing knowledge about hypothermia induced after cardiopulmonary arrest: literature review].
OBJECTIVE
This paper aims to conduct a review of current scientific evidence on therapeutic hypothermia (TH) induced after cardiac arrest (CA).To examine the published literature; existing nursing knowledge; and the pursuit of the proper role of nursing.


BACKGROUND
CA is a problematic health status with a high associated mortality rate. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques have increased the number of patients who recover spontaneous circulation, whereas, mortality in intensive care units (ICU) arising from the neurological damage produced, remains very high. Induced TH is defined as a protective factor against neurological damage resulting from the CA and CPR, but despite the recommendations on its use in the management of post-cardiac arrest syndrome, there is little rigour in its use, little nurse standardisation, and a lack of protocols in our ICU.


METHODS
The databases which can be accessed are: Medline, Pubmed, Ocenet Health, Cochrane Library Plus, Cuiden, Scielo, and electronic platforms Elsevier, OVID and ProQuest. The following keywords were used to start the search: "Hypothermia, Induced", "Heart Arrest", "Nursing".


METHODS
only evidence published since 2005, regardless of the output language, focusing on those works involving nursing.


CONCLUSIONS
This work shows clear evidence of the use of TH induced after CA, and the literature and knowledge required for nursing to interpret their own role, and to introduce standardised protocols for ICUs.
Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, España. lauralzp@hotmail.com
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Lázaro Paradinas
D002983:Clinical Competence; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D007362:Intensive Care Units