Putting Cardiac Arrest On Ice
Washington University physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital are now using therapeutic hypothermia to treat some cardiac arrest patients.
Cardiac arrest stops the heart from delivering oxygen to all parts of the body. Because the brain is very sensitive to a lack of oxygen, brain injury is common in cardiac arrest even if the person is resuscitated.
At Barnes-Jewish, clinicians treat some cardiac arrest patients by inserting a catheter that circulates cold saline, which lowers blood temperature about 7 degrees. Research finds more positive neurological outcomes with this method.