The newest post on this topic I can find is dated almost three years ago which leads me to believe not many places are doing it. If I am incorrect, or if there is a more current post that I missed, please forgive me.
One of the things that is quickly coming down the pipe for CPR in my area (South Texas) is induced hypothermia for patients who experience a spontaneous return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
I know trends vary aross the country (and even within states, as some of my colleagues in other parts of my own state haven't heard of it yet.) So, my question is this: I'd like to see a geographical representation from around the country (and world) of who currently has a protocol or is actively involved in a field trial involving induced hypothermia for ROSC. Please identify where you are from if it's not obvious in your signature/info, which of the two you fall into, how long the protocol has been in effect, if you have used it, and if so, with what kind of results.
If you're not familiar with it, here's the down and dirty of it:
If the patients gets a pulse back, the room temperature NS IV bags used during resusciation are changed out for bags carried in a DC-powered cooler in the units, with the goal to get the patient's temperature down to 33*C (91.4*F) as quickly as possible, (with paralysis if needed to prevent shivering as the body attempts to raise its temperature). Once delivered to the ED, the patient is brought down to the target temp, maintained in the ICU for 24 hours, then slowly brought back up to a normothermic level. The kicker of it is that the patient must be transported to a receiving facility that can maitnain the continuum of care of the specialized protocol.
The theory behind it is that the hypothermia provides a protective mechanism from anoxic brain injury during reperfusion of the brain. Just like like we are all taught from day 1 in EMT class: "They're not dead until they're warm and dead."
Thanks for the feedback,
OmniMedic
One of the things that is quickly coming down the pipe for CPR in my area (South Texas) is induced hypothermia for patients who experience a spontaneous return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).
I know trends vary aross the country (and even within states, as some of my colleagues in other parts of my own state haven't heard of it yet.) So, my question is this: I'd like to see a geographical representation from around the country (and world) of who currently has a protocol or is actively involved in a field trial involving induced hypothermia for ROSC. Please identify where you are from if it's not obvious in your signature/info, which of the two you fall into, how long the protocol has been in effect, if you have used it, and if so, with what kind of results.
If you're not familiar with it, here's the down and dirty of it:
If the patients gets a pulse back, the room temperature NS IV bags used during resusciation are changed out for bags carried in a DC-powered cooler in the units, with the goal to get the patient's temperature down to 33*C (91.4*F) as quickly as possible, (with paralysis if needed to prevent shivering as the body attempts to raise its temperature). Once delivered to the ED, the patient is brought down to the target temp, maintained in the ICU for 24 hours, then slowly brought back up to a normothermic level. The kicker of it is that the patient must be transported to a receiving facility that can maitnain the continuum of care of the specialized protocol.
The theory behind it is that the hypothermia provides a protective mechanism from anoxic brain injury during reperfusion of the brain. Just like like we are all taught from day 1 in EMT class: "They're not dead until they're warm and dead."
Thanks for the feedback,
OmniMedic
