Two cases of asystolic cardiac arrests managed with therapeutic hypothermia

Abstract

Poor neurological outcome is a common sequel of prolonged cardiac arrest. Although Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH) for neuroprotection has been a subject for research for over Half a century, its use has been limited because of many controversies and lack of clear guidelines. However for over two decades there has been a revival of interest in mild therapeutic hypothermia (32-34°C) for neuroprotection. However its use after primary asystolic cardiac arrest has been questioned.Herein presenting two cases of prolonged asystolic arrest (39 minutes and 25 minutes); where therapeutic hypothermia was successfully used in following prolonged cardio pulmonary resuscitation. On patients who were in deep coma after resuscitation, TH was applied for 24 hours as per institutional protocol with full neurological recovery in both the cases. Therapeutic hypothermia might have a potential role in even in non-shockable arrests and should be considered in every successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation with poor neurological status.