Exam
Induced Therapeutic Hypothermia
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Induced Therapeutic Hypothermia
, Therapeutic Hypothermia, Targeted Temperature Management
See Also
Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
Newborn Resuscitation
(for Therapeutic Hypothermia protocol in newborns)
Indications
Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
Class I indications (AHA)
Coma
tose patients (GCS<8) with
STEMI
Coma
tose patients with
ROSC
after witnessed
Cardiac Arrest
from
Ventricular Fibrillation
, pulseless VT
Class 2B Indications
Coma
tose patients (GCS<8) with
ROSC
after witnessed
Cardiac Arrest
from nonshockable rhythm
No guidelines outside of non-pregnant adults
Case reports only to date for induced
Hypothermia
for post-arrest pregnant women
Children appear to benefit in post-arrest with
Ventricular Fibrillation
or
Ventricular Tachycardia
Good expert opinion support for induced
Hypothermia
in this cohort
Newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
Consider Sarnat Criteria to aid decision to start induced
Hypothermia
Unclear efficacy
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
as a cause of
Cardiac Arrest
Induced
Hypothermia
is neuroprotective and may decrease
Intracranial Pressure
Efficacy similar to
Hypertonic Saline
or
Mannitol
Increased bleeding risk is minimized if core
Temperature
goal adjusted to 35 C (95 F)
Contraindications
Coma
tose before
Cardiac Arrest
Multiple
Trauma
tic injuries (Risk of bleeding)
Intracranial Hemorrhage
Exsanguination
,
Coagulopathy
or recent major surgery with significant bleeding risk
Hypotension
requiring multiple
Vasopressor
s
Hemodynamically unstable (e.g. MAP <60 mmHg for >30 min)
Severe
Sepsis
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
(
ARDS
)
Significant
QT Prolongation
(QTc >550 ms)
Initial core
Temperature
<30 C
Mechanisms
Cardioprotective
Decreased
Myocardial Infarction
size
Decreased myocardial metabolic demands
Neuroprotective
Decreased cerebral metabolism and neuroexcitatory mediators
Improved
Glucose Metabolism
Decreased
Oxygen Consumption
(decreases 8% for every 1 C cooled)
Inhibits inflammatory cascade (decreased free radicals, pro-inflammatory
Cytokine
s)
Decreased brain edema and
Seizure
risk
Precautions
No evidence-based standardized guidelines for cooling protocol
Start protocol as early as possible following
Return of Spontaneous Circulation
(
ROSC
)
In one study, every hour of delay in starting
Hypothermia
protocol was associated with a 20% increase in mortality
Mooney (2011) Circulation 124(2): 206-14 [PubMed]
Transfer post-arrest patients to larger tertiary centers
Initiate external cooling prior to transfer
Best maintenance of core
Temperature
target, even when target is near normal at 36 C
Larger centers have available equipment, practiced protocols to maintain consistent
Temperature
Post-arrest care is complex, multidisciplinary and an intensive use of resources
Protocol
Cooling Initiation and Maintenance
Onset and duration
Start immediately following
ROSC
(preferably within 4 hours, at minimum within 6-8 hours of arrest)
Pre-hospital cooling has not been shown to be beneficial
Kim (2013) JAMA 311(1): 45-52 [PubMed]
Typically goal
Temperature
achieved within 1-2 hours
Continue for at least 12-14 hours (typically 24-48 hours in most protocols)
Cooling techniques
Cooled saline at 4 C (40 F) at 30 cc/kg over 30 minutes (2 Liters in a 70 kg adult)
Drops
Body Temperature
1-2 degrees/hour
Continue cooled saline at maintenance until at hypothermic target
Measured core
Temperature
lags actual by 20 minutes (caution at
Temperature
<35 C)
Ice bags applied to bilateral side of neck, with bilateral axilla and groin
Noninvasive methods are as effective as endovascular catheters initially
However may require invasive cooling to maintain
Hypothermia
Transfer to a facility specializing in post-arrest care
Goal core
Temperature
Non-trauama: 32 to 34º Celsius (89.6 to 93º F)
Temperature
of 32-33º C is preferred in non-
Trauma
patients
Do not cool a patient to <32 C due to
Arrhythmia
risk
Non-
Trauma
proposed new target: 36 C (experimental)
Large study demonstrated no difference between 36 C and 33 C outcomes
Target of 36 C may be preferred as easier to maintain than 33 C and less hemodynamic instability
Orman and Weingart in Herbert (2014) EM:Rap 14(4):7-8
Nielsen (2013) N Engl J Med 369(23): 2197-206 [PubMed]
Trauma
: 35 C (95 F)
Do not drop
Temperature
below 35 C in
Trauma
patients (due to bleeding risk)
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
: 35 C (95 F)
Goal per neurosurgery recommendation
Re-target core
Temperature
if cooled below 35 C (95 F) prior to
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
diagnosis
Avoid rapid transition to warmer core
Temperature
Allow core
Temperature
to rise 0.25 degrees per hour until 35 C (95 F)
Prevent shivering (increases
Body Temperature
)
Requires paralysis, sedation and
Opioid Analgesic
s to prevent shivering
Increase sedation (
Propofol
,
Midazolam
)
Add
Dexmedetomidine
Consider
Opioid
s
Consider
Magnesium
4 gram bolus (increases the shivering threshold)
Monitoring
Temperature
monitoring (every 15 min)
Pre-transfer to post-arrest unit
Intermittent rectal probe
Post-arrest ICU care (or if transfer is delayed for hours)
Esophageal or
Bladder
probe (far preferred over rectal probe)
Esophageal
Temperature
probes are inserted in similar fashion to
Nasogastric Tube
Positioning of probe is 2-3 inches above the xiphoid process
Monitor
Electrolyte
s and coagulation tests every 3-4 hours
Anticipate significant diuresis with induced
Hypothermia
Risk of
Hypovolemia
and
Electrolyte
disturbance
Labs at 4 hours after cooling started and then every 4 hours
Serum Potassium
(goal >4.0)
Serum Magnesium
Serum Phosphorus
Blood Glucose
140-180 mg/dl
Venous Blood Gas
or
Arterial Blood Gas
Other periodic labs (CBC with
Platelet
s, PT/INR, PTT)
Monitor for
Arrhythmia
Avoid causes of
Prolonged QT Interval due to Medication
Expect
Sinus Bradycardia
Blood Pressure
Arterial Line
monitoring is preferred (typically initiated at tertiary, post-arrest center)
Target mean arterial pressure >65 mmHg (and ideally >80 mmHg), and SBP >90 mmHg
Ventilation
Maintain a normal pH and pCO2 (40-45 mmHg)
Maintain
Oxygen Saturation
>94%
Other measures
Routine skin care
Protocol
Decooling
Decool at 0.25 C per hour until core
Temperature
>37 C (typically over 12 or more hours)
Replace fluids and
Electrolyte
s as needed
Discontinue paralytic and wean sedation as able
Extubate when able
Maintain MAP >65 mmHg (and ideally >80 mmHg), and SBP >90 mmHg
Avoid hyperthermia
Efficacy
Targeted Temperature Management (prevent hyperthermia or fever) is key
Aggressive
Hypothermia
to <33 C does not have better outcomes than 36 C
Protective effects appear more related to the prevention of fever or hyperthermia
Neilson (2013) N Engl J Med 369: 2197-2206 [PubMed]
Children: No signficant favorable data to support Therapeutic Hypothermia over preventing fever
Reasonable to treat adolescents as adults
Most important to prevent fever in the first 4-5 days (targeted temp between 36 to 37.5 C)
Moler (2015) N Engl J Med 372(20): 1898-908 +PMID: 25913022 [PubMed]
Change (2016) Resuscitation 105:8-15 +PMID:27185217 [PubMed]
Number Needed to Treat
following VFib or pulseless VT arrest: 6
Improved neurologic outcomes following
Ventricular Fibrillation
Cardiac Arrest
(2002) N Engl J Med 346(8):549-56 [PubMed]
Bernard (2002) N Engl J Med 346(8): 557-63 [PubMed]
Limited observational studies to date demonstrate no benefit in
Cardiac Arrest
non-shockable rhythm (PEA,
Asystole
)
Dumas (2011) Circulation 123(8): 877-886 [PubMed]
Adverse Effects
Hypothermia
related
Shivering (see above)
Frostbite
Hypoglycemia
Renal effects
Serum Potassium
abnormalities
Cold diuresis
Bleeding
Impaired
Platelet
function and
Clotting Factor
function
Bleeding risk in
Trauma
at core
Temperature
<35 C (95 F) and especially <32 C (89.6 F)
Slower hepatic metabolism
Consider altering drug doses and frequency
Theoretical effects (but has not been shown to have
Clinically Significant
effects)
Bradycardia
, decreased
Cardiac Output
and increased
Systemic Vascular Resistance
Decreased cellular and
Humoral Immunity
Other effects
Altered
Drug Metabolism
References
(2016)
CALS
Manual, 14th Ed., 1:37
Mattu in Herbert (2013) EM:Rap 13(8): 1-2
Stefanos and Swaminathan in Herbert (2016) EM:Rap 16(11):17-8
Winters et al in Herbert (2013) EM:Rap 13(7): 9-10
Weingart and Orman in Herbert (2014) EM:Rap 14(1): 9-10
Seder (2009) Crit Care Med 37: S211-22 [PubMed]
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