FHMMC First in Volusia County to Implement Therapeutic-Induced Hypothermia for Cardiac Arrest

June 8, 2012 - PRLog -- DAYTONA BEACH – Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is now utilizing Therapeutic-Induced Hypothermia, an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocol in treating patients who have suffered from cardiac arrest.

Therapeutic hypothermia is the only intervention that has been shown to improve neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest and can also be utilized in patients who have suffered head or spinal injuries. This new treatment works by protecting the brain and other organs by lowering oxygen requirements, decreasing swelling and limiting the release of damaging toxins that can cause cells to die.

Studied since the 1900s and known to be beneficial since the 1950s, Therapeutic-Induced Hypothermia (TIH) is a protocol endorsed by the American Heart Association since 2003. During TIH, a patient’s body temperature is cooled to 32-34 degrees Celsius (89.6-93.2 degrees Fahrenheit) for 24 hours using external cooling wraps or cooled intravenous fluids.  

If TIH is initiated by Emergency Medical Services (EMS), a patient can only be transported to a facility capable of continuing TIH care. Volusia County EMS will begin using TIH on select cardiac arrest patients in July 2012, and since Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center is currently the only facility in Volusia County to provide this care, all TIH patients will be transported to the Daytona Beach hospital.

“Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center prepared for Therapeutic-Induced Hypothermia by meeting with Cardiology, Critical Care, and the Emergency Department teams to develop a protocol that could be adapted hospital-wide,” said Dr. Michael Gable, Emergency Department Medical Director for Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. “Most of the protocol was developed from the pre-existing Florida Hospital protocol, as well as research articles and protocols from other institutions.”

During the course of induced hypothermia, patients are closely monitored, intubated, ventilated and sedated. After 24 hours of induced hypothermia, the patient’s body temperature is slowly returned to normal. The intent is to minimize any neurologic damage due to low blood pressure during a cardiac arrest and return a patient to their normal state upon re-warming.

“Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States, affecting nearly 300,000 lives each year,” said Alex Heggblod, Director of Emergency Services for Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. “During cardiac arrest, the heart stops abruptly and is no longer able to pump blood to the rest of the body. By cooling the patient’s body temperature, which thereby reduces the body’s oxygen requirements, we are able to protect the brain and other organs, decrease swelling and inhibit further release of damaging toxins that can cause cells to die.”