Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest in a 66-year-old man.
Hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury is an important cause of morbidity and mortality following both in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Despite significant advances in critical care the only intervention proven to increase survival rates after cardiac arrest is mild hypothermia. The authors present a case describing the use of therapeutic hypothermia after ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, including its indications and contra-indications, and the techniques that can be used to induce it.
Cardiology Department, Great Western Hospital, Swindon, UK. danbromage@doctors.org.uk
Daniel Ian
DI
Bromage
Andrew
A
Padkin
D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D000075202:Contraindications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged