title: Risk of thromboembolic events with endovascular cooling catheters in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular cooling is currently used for hypothermia treatment and fever reduction therapy. At the same time, little is known about the risks associated to endovascular cooling in patients treated with an endovascular cooling catheter (ECC).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of 122 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) treated with an ECC either for therapeutic hypothermia or for fever reduction was performed. ECC-associated thromboembolic events (TEE) such as pulmonary embolism and thrombosis were recorded and compared between patients treated with an ECC and patients treated only with a central venous line (CVL). Additionally, various laboratory parameters were recorded to determine if they might be related to the frequency of TEE's.
  
  
  RESULTS
  43 Patients were treated with an ECC and 79 with a CVL. Patients in the ECC group suffered more frequently from TEE (37 %) than those with a CVL (5 %). None of the laboratory parameters was associated with an increased TEE risk. The treatment with an ECC alone was a risk factor for a TEE, independent from age as well as from Hunt and Hess grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that the treatment with ECC increases the risk of TEE in SAH patients. Therefore, especially when considered for fever reduction, non-invasive devices for surface cooling should be the first choice.
authors: Neurocritical Care Unit, Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Achim
authors: A
authors: Müller
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Lorenz
authors: Burkhardt
authors: B
authors: Seifert
authors: Emanuela
authors: E
authors: Keller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D062905:Central Venous Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D062666:Vascular Access Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*