Therapeutic hypothermia

Background

  • Determination of Neurologic Prognosis is unreliable before at least 72 hours after ROSC. Do not neuroprognosticate until 72 hours post rewarming.
  • Greatest benefit in out-of-hospital V-fib, though evidence suggests hypothermia helps in other dysrhythmias[1]
  • Two most likely mechanisms of action:
    • Reduces cerebral metabolism by 6-8% per degree C
    • Reduces oxygen free radical production and lipid peroxidation
  • Cooling to 32-34ºC was found in initial studies, current studies suggest 36ºC to have same benefits[2]
  • Therapeutic hypothermia does not appear to provide a survival or improved neurological benefit in the pediatric population[3]
  • Therapeutic hypothermia should be initiated immediately after ROSC, and patient may be cooled concurrently with cardiac catheterization
  • Cooling should occur prior to CT scan if there is need for intracranial pathology workup
  • AHA recommends 12-24 hrs of cooling
  • NNT of ~6
  • Pediatrics[4][5]
    • Two large RTCs for TH, one in out-of-hospital and another in in-hospital arrests
    • In both studies, no difference in survival, function at 12 months post-arrest, blood product use, infection rates

Indications

  • V-fib arrest
  • Other pulseless dysrhythmias (relative)

Contraindications/Exclusions

  • >12hrs since ROSC
  • Glasgow Motor score >5
  • Minimal pre-morbid cognitive status
  • Unable to maintain SBP > 90 mmHg, with or without pressors, after CPR
  • Other reason for coma
    • Intracranial pathology (i.e. intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic stroke)
    • Subarachnoid hemorrhage
    • Sedation
    • Drug overdose
    • Status epilepticus
  • Sepsis as etiology for arrest
  • DNR/DNI status, terminal illness
  • Uncontrollable bleeding or known bleeding diathesis with active bleeding
  • Significant trauma (especially intra-abdominal)
  • Pregnancy
  • Therapeutic hypothermia may be safe for postpartum cardiac arrest[6]

Cooling

  • Cool to 32-34ºC as soon as possible (within 4 hours)
    • Strict maintenance of temperature at 36ºC may have similar benefits
  • Initiate rewarming 24 hrs after target temperature was reached
  • Cooling methods
    • Maintain at 32-34ºC with 2 cooling blankets to sandwich the pt, with sheets covering the blankets to protect skin
    • Alternatively, use heat exchange device (Icy Cath) or 4°C IVF at 30 cc/kg over 30 min
    • Cooling pads on the thighs and abdomen (Arctic Sun)
    • Supplement with ice packs to groin, chest, axillae, neck until 34ºC reached
  • Prevention of shivering and paralysis

Maintainance

Sedation

  • Fentanyl Injection 50 mcg IV every hour as needed for pain
  • Fentanyl IV infusion NSS
  • Propofol IV infusion
  • Lorazepam IV infusion
  • Lorazepam Injection 1mg IV every 2 hours as needed for agitation

Shivering

  • Prevention of shivering is important to avoid warming and needless oxygen consumption
  • May require train of four monitor with goal of 1-2/4 twitches with neuromuscular blockade
  • Lower doses of NMB work against shivering
  • Higher doses of NMB used to paralyze the diaphragm in these scenarios:
    • Need to decrease O2 consumption
    • Decrease plateau pressures
    • Hypoxemia is present
  • Consider meperidine q2hrs[7][8]:
    • 50mg for normal renal function
    • 25mg if CrCl < 30ml/min
  • Pancuronium IV infusion
    • Initiate before initiating cooling. Dosing recommendations: 0.1mg/kg loading dose followed by a continuous infusion of 0.33-2 mcg/kg/minute
    • Do not use in patients with renal and/or hepatic insufficiency
  • Cisatricurium for renal/hepatic impairment
    • 0.2mg/kg IV bolus
    • Followed by infusion at 1 mcg/kg/min, max of 3 mcg/kg/min
  • Columbia University anti-shivering protocol
Columbia shivering protocol.PNG

Rewarming

  • If severe dysrhythmia/BP instability/bleeding develops, rewarm pt
  • Discontinue K infusions (extracellular K increases)
  • Keep paralytic and sedative until rewarmed
  • Slow rewarm at 0.5°C to target of 36°C

General Management

Other Concerns

  • Head of bed at 30 degrees
  • Goal MAP 80 - 100 mmhg
    • Titrate with norepinephrine (start 2-4 mcg/min) if EF > 50%
    • Titrate with dobutamine (start 2.5-20 mcg/kg/min) if EF < 50%
    • IV NTG starting at 10 mcg/min if hypertensive
  • Check skin q2-6 hrs for cold injury
  • Maintain tight BG control, 110-150mg/dL
  • Replete K, Mg, Phos, Ca (hypothermia induced diuresis is expected)
  • Common unconcerning ECG findings during cooling - Osborne wave, HR < 40 bpm
  • Consider continuous EEG within 6 hrs, no later than 12 hrs after onset of cooling
  • Stress dose steroids for adrenal insufficiency
  • Seizure prophylaxis

Labs

  • ABG q6 hrs for duration of hypothermia
  • CBC, Coags, BMP, Mg, Phos q6 hrs for duration of hypothermia
    • Expect decreased K, Ca, Mg, Phos during, and rebound at rewarming
    • Hyperglycemia as metabolism slows at low temperature and body develops insulin resistance
  • Troponins, CK-MB q6 hrs x2 days
  • Lipase, LFTs (if abnormal, no need to intervene unless persistent after rewarming)
  • Other - Cortisol, UA, Pan-cultures, tox screen

ABG Interpretation

  • Rewarm ABG to 37 ℃ for analysis
  • If not rewarmed, the following are seen for every 1°C below 37°C:
    • PO2 overestimated by 5 mmHg
    • PCO2 overestimated by 2 mmHg
    • pH underestimated by 0.012

Monitoring

  • ECG q8 rule out ACS
  • Arterial line
  • Foley with temperature probe
  • CVP, ScvO2

Imaging

  • Consider head CT
  • Consider CTPE study

Disposition

  • ICU admission

External Links

See Also

{{HypothermiaCardiac Arrest Links}}

References

  1. Nolan, et al. Therapeutic HypothermiaAfter Cardiac Arrest. Circulation. 2003; 108: 118-121.
  2. Nielsen N, et al. Targeted Temperature Management at 33°C versus 36°C after Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med. 2013; 369:2197-2206. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1310519
  3. Mosler FW, et al. Therapeutic hypothermia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in children. N Eng J Med. 2015; 372:1898-1908.
  4. Moler FW et al. Therapeutic Hypothermia after In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Children. N Engl J Med 2017; 376:318-329January 26, 2017.
  5. Moler FW et al. Therapeutic Hypothermia after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Children. N Engl J Med 2015; 372:1898-1908May 14, 2015.
  6. Song et al. Safely completed therapeutic hypothermia in postpartum cardiac arrest survivors. Am Jour Emer Med. June 2015. Volume 33, Issue 6, Pages 861.e5–861.e6.
  7. Choi HA, Ko SB, Presciutti M, et al. Prevention of Shivering During Therapeutic Temperature Modulation: The Columbia Anti-Shivering Protocol. Neurocrit Care. 2011; 14(3):389-394.
  8. Fox Chase Cancer Center. Therapeutic HypothermiaProtocol. University of Pennsylvania. https://www.med.upenn.edu/resuscitation/docs/protocols/FoxChaseCancerCenterTherapeuticHypothermiaOrderSetafterCardiacArrest-latestrevision8-4-11.doc