Induced Hypothermia for cardiac

[Capt.Hook]

I just read in my WI EMS monthly about Dane county (where Madison is) wanting to move to compressions only and inducing hypothermia for a cardiac arrest as the initial approach. The idea is to reduce the brain's O2 demand and to prevent brain injury. Anyone know of this technique? As of yet, I believe it is still in the works.

 

[VentMedic]

This was popular in the early 1980s and has made its way back again.

There are several hospitals that have the ability to utilize hypothermia protocols and the patient selection is done case by case.

There are a few EMS systems that are also using the protocol but they must be capable of using paralytics and the local hospital systems should be aware of the protocols.

Controversy includes the paralytics on board makes a neuro exam difficult and the physicians may be committed to following through with the protocol dispite a very poor prognosis.

King County, Washington was one of the first programs.

Sample of their "consent" form.

http://www.uwmedicine.org/NR/rdonly...O_Continued_Participation_Consent_9_22_06.pdf

Wake County's protocol
http://www.med.upenn.edu/resuscitation/hypothermia/documents/WakeCountyEMSHypothermiaProtocol.pdf

There are other threads here that have discussed hypothermia with ROSC.