United KingdomLaerdal MediCool
Why the need to cool?
• Anoxic brain injury is a common outcome after cardiac arrest.
• Studies have shown a reduction in mortality and improved neurological outcomes after cooling.
A European multicentre trial (HACA Study Group. New Eng J Med 2002;346:549-556) reported that cooling
increased the number of patients who survived with favourable neurological outcome from 39% to 55%, and an
Australian study (Bernard et al . New Eng J Med 2002; 346: 557-563) reported a similar increase from 26% to 49%.
How does cooling help?
• Cooling reduces cerebral oxygen requirements.
• Cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen is reduced by 6% for every 1°C reduction in brain temperature.
• Chemical reactions associated with reperfusion injury are thought to be suppressed by mild hypothermia
(Resuscitation 2003; 57: 231-235).