• K Fink, T Schwab, C Bode, and H-J Busch.
• Internistische Intensivstationen Heilmeyer, Abteilung für Kardiologie und Angiologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.
• Anaesthesist. 2008 Dec 1;57(12):1155-60.

IntroductionTime course, time necessary to achieve the target temperature and stable maintenance, as well as a controlled rewarming period are important factors influencing the outcome of patients after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation.MethodsAfter successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation a total of 49 patients were cooled via an endovascular or external cooling device to a target temperature of 33 degrees C. Relevant cooling parameters, such as time between admission and initiation of cooling, achievement of target temperature and stable maintenance of cooling therapy, were compared between both groups.ResultsIn the endovascular cooling group the target temperature was reached significantly faster (154 +/- 97 min vs. 268 +/- 95 min, p = 0.0002) and showed stable and controlled maintenance of cooling therapy (deviation from target temperature: 0.189 +/- 0.23 degrees C vs 0.596 +/- 0.61 degrees C, p = 0.00006). The rewarming phase was better controlled and length of ICU stay was shorter in the group with endovascular cooling (8.8 +/- 3 vs. 12.9 +/- 6 days).ConclusionEndovascular cooling offers the possibility to reach the target temperature significantly faster and a stable maintenance of therapeutic hypothermia. It is capable of a more controlled rewarming period and shortens the length of ICU stay.

16 keywords...

hide…