Abstract 145: Deploying Early Cooling at ICECAP Sites: A Barrier Assessment

Abstract

Introduction: Best practices for implementing early temperature control in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest have yet to be defined. We surveyed sites enrolling in the Influence of Cooling Duration on Efficacy in Cardiac Arrest Patients (ICECAP) trial to understand variability in temperature control practices and identify barriers to rapid induction of cooling. Methods: A 23 question electronic survey was sent to principal investigators at 68 active ICECAP sites. Participants were queried on temperature control practices and asked to upload institutional protocols. Results: Fifty-two sites (76.5%) responded to the survey. While 45 sites (86.5%) had an institutional temperature control protocol, only 33 (63.5%) had an emergency department (ED)-specific protocol. Intravascular cooling was available at 21 sites (40.4%). The most frequent barriers to early initiation of temperature control were clinical skepticism regarding the importance of early cooling (n=32, 35.9%), insufficient nursing availability (n=18, 20.2%), lack of access to a cooling device in the ED (n=17, 19.1%), inability to achieve target temperature despite rapid connection to a cooling device (n=17, 19.1%), and delay due to procedures or intensive care unit transfer (n=5 5.6%). ED average boarding time exceeded two hours in 23 sites (44.2%). Fourteen (28%) sites did not have institutional protocols for early sedation or paralysis to help rapidly lower core body temperature during induction of temperature control. Paralytics were infrequently used during the induction phase; at the majority of sites (n=30, 61.2%) paralytics were used less than 20% of the time. Activation in the ICECAP trial resulted in quality improvements to institutional cooling protocols (n=14, 26.9%), such as purchase of cooling devices for the ED, development of sedation or paralytic protocols, and educational initiatives to shorten the time to target temperature. Conclusion: Many of the identified barriers for rapid initiation of temperature control are modifiable. Nursing and provider education regarding the importance of early cooling and development of standardized sedation and paralytic protocols may be effective strategies to improve early cooling practices.