Therapeutic Hypothermia In Patients Research Articles

168: Safety of the use of therapeutic hypothermia in patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

168: Safety of the use of therapeutic hypothermia in patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH) in treating poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), focusing on functional outcomes, mortality, and complications such as vasospasm, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and hydrocephalus. Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central, up to November 2023. Nine studies involving 368 patients were selected based on eligibility criteria focusing on TH in poor-grade SAH patients. Data extraction, bias assessment, and evidence certainty were systematically performed. The primary analysis of unfavorable outcomes in 271 participants showed no significant difference between the TH and standard care groups (risk ratio [RR], 0.87). However, a significant reduction in vasospasm was observed in the TH group (RR, 0.63) among 174 participants. No significant differences were found in DCI, hydrocephalus, and mortality rates in the respective participant groups. TH did not significantly improve primary unfavorable outcomes in poor-grade SAH patients. However, the reduction in vasospasm rates indicates potential specific benefits. The absence of significant findings in other secondary outcomes and mortality highlights the need for further research to better understand TH's role in treating this patient population.

Effectiveness and safety of early postpyloric feeding during therapeutic hypothermia in patients with large hemispheric infarction: A retrospective cohort study.

What kind of feeding should be provided during therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in patients with large hemispheric infarction (LHI) is not clear. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective observational study to determine whether providing early postpyloric feeding (PPF) (<24 h after admission) is beneficial or harmful for patients with this condition. This study retrospectively screened 78 patients with LHI who were treated with TH from one neurological intensive care unit (ICU). The patients were receiving either early PPF (n = 52) or early parenteral nutrition (PN) (n = 26). Data regarding 30-day mortality, neurological outcome, nutrition-related laboratory indicators, ICU hospitalization time, mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, and complications were collected. A greater number of patients who received early PPF had favorable neurologic outcome than those who received early PN (57.7% vs 30.7%, P = 0.025). The early PPF group had a lower severity of pulmonary infection than the early PN group, as measured by the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (7.33 ± 0.96 vs 9.42 ± 2.11, P = 0.006). The total protein and hemoglobin levels in the early PPF group were higher than those in the early PN group (59.56 ± 5.09 vs 56.52 ± 7.94 g/L, P = 0.046; 131.06 ± 19.58 vs 122.07 ± 17.72 g/L, P = 0.045). The MV duration and ICU hospitalization time were shorter in the early PPF group (13 [9;21] vs 21 [14;30] days, P = 0.006; 28 [22;36] vs 34 [33;51] days, P = 0.014). There were no significant differences in the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections, 30-day mortality, or nutrition intolerance between the two groups. Early PPF is an effective and safe enteral nutrition method for patients with LHI receiving TH.

Therapeutic hyperthermia for the treatment of infection-a narrative review.

Modulating body temperature, mostly through the use of antipyretics, is a commonly employed therapeutic intervention in medical practice. However, emerging evidence suggests that hyperthermia could serve as an adjuvant therapy for patients with infection. We performed a narrative review to explore the application of therapeutic hyperthermia in the treatment of infection. A number of studies have been performed in the pre-antibiotic era, enrolling patients with neurosyphilis and gonococcal infections, with reported cure rates at around 60%-80%. We have outlined the potential molecular and immunological mechanisms explaining the possible beneficial effects of therapeutic hyperthermia. For some pathogens increased temperature exerts a direct negative effect on virulence; however, it is presumed that temperature driven activation of the immune system is probably the most important factor affecting microbial viability. Lastly, we performed a review of modern-era studies where modulation of body temperature has been used as a treatment strategy. In trials of therapeutic hypothermia in patients with infection worse outcomes have been observed in the hypothermia group. Use of antipyretics has not been associated with any improvement in clinical outcomes. In modern-era therapeutic hyperthermia achieved by physical warming has been studied in one pilot trial, and better survival was observed in the hyperthermia group. To conclude, currently there is not enough data to support the use of therapeutic hyperthermia outside clinical trials; however, available studies are in favor of at least a temperature tolerance strategy for non-neurocritical patients.

Therapeutic hypothermia in patients after cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

ObjectiveTargeted temperature management (TTM) with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has been used to improve neurological outcomes in patients after cardiac arrest; however, several trials have reported conflicting results regarding its effectiveness. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed whether TH was associated with better survival and neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. MethodWe searched online databases for relevant studies published before May 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing TH and normothermia in post-cardiac-arrest patients were selected. Neurological outcomes and all-cause mortality were assessed as the primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. A subgroup analysis according to initial electrocardiography (ECG) rhythm was performed. ResultNine RCTs (4058 patients) were included. The neurological prognosis was significantly better in patients with an initial shockable rhythm after cardiac arrest (RR = 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76–0.99, P = 0.04), especially in those with earlier TH initiation (<120 min) and prolonged TH duration (≥24 h). However, the mortality rate after TH was not lower than that after normothermia (RR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.79–1.05). In patients with an initial nonshockable rhythm, TH did not provide significantly more neurological or survival benefits (RR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.93–1.03 and RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.95–1.05, respectively). ConclusionCurrent evidence with a moderate level of certainty suggests that TH has potential neurological benefits for patients with an initial shockable rhythm after cardiac arrest, especially in those with faster TH initiation and longer TH maintenance.

What has changed over 10 years in neonatal therapeutic hypothermia? Part 2: Practical advice based on literature review and the authors’ own experiences

Mild therapeutic hypothermia, understood as controlled cooling of the body or its part (the head) below the physiological temperature, i.e. 36°C, in accordance with appropriate therapeutic protocols, was approved in 2006 by the US Food and Drug Administration as an experimental method in preventing long-term complications of hypoxia in term and near-term newborns, i.e. those born at ≥35+0 weeks of gestational age. In newborns, unlike in adults, the aim of this method is neuroprotection of the central nervous system. Reports indicating the beneficial effect of cold in reviving a “weak” newborn have been known for a long time. However, both the positive effects of controlled cooling in reducing the percentage of severe neurological complications associated with deep perinatal hypoxia and its safety were not properly confirmed until the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, with extensive experimental data from animal studies and a number of clinical protocols (TOBY, ICE, NICHD, Cool-Cap). Hypothermia was officially included in the canon of therapeutic methods in neonatology by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2009, and in 2013, it became a hospital service guaranteed and financed by the National Health Fund in Poland. In 2015, mild therapeutic hypothermia became the worldwide recommended treatment method for infants born with severe asphyxia, at risk of developing symptoms of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy to at least a moderate degree according to the Sarnat grading scale. In this paper, the authors share their own experiences related to the use of therapeutic hypothermia in patients under 18 years of age and indicate the most important aspects of its evolution over the last decade based on data from the literature.

Abstract 14498: Cardiogenic Shock Intravascular Cooling Trial (CHILL-SHOCK)

Introduction: Despite advances in revascularization and mechanical support, cardiogenic shock (CS) remains a highly morbid clinical state with 30-day mortality approaching 50%. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has been demonstrated to improve hemodynamics and reduce inflammation in small studies, but prospective randomized data is limited. We aimed to assess the safety and hemodynamic effects of TH (33 °C for 24 hours) in patients with CS. Methods: A total of 20 patients in CS were randomized to either TH plus standard therapy or standard therapy alone in this pilot study. Patients randomized to TH were cooled and rewarmed via intravenous cooling catheter. The primary safety endpoint was a composite of bradycardia requiring treatment, bleeding requiring transfusion as a result of catheter placement or secondary to resulting coagulopathy, shivering, hyperglycemia requiring insulin for non-diabetic patients, electrolyte derangement unexplained by other therapies, and complications from cooling catheter insertion. Secondary endpoints included hemodynamic parameters (cardiac output, pulmonary artery pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and cardiac power index). Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the composite analysis of prespecified safety outcomes (3 events in TH group vs 0 events in control group, p = 0.24). Patients randomized to TH demonstrated a statistically significant increase in cardiac index (3.6 [3.1, 3.9] L/min/m 2 vs 2.6 [2.5, 3.2] L/min/m 2 , p = 0.03) and cardiac power index (0.61 [0.55, 0.70] W/m 2 vs 0.53 [0.44, 0.57] W/m 2 , p = 0.03) compared to the control group at 48-96 hours after randomization. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for other collected hemodynamic variables. Conclusions: TH is a safe adjunct therapy for patients presenting with CS and may yield improvement in specific hemodynamic parameters. Larger studies are necessary to better understand the clinical benefits of TH in patients presenting with CS.

Abstract 13426: Efficacy and Safety of Hypothermia as Adjuvant Therapy for Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: Randomized control trials (RCT) conducted on myocardial infarction (MI) patients regarding the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) as an adjunct to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have shown inconsistent results. This study aims to compare the use of TH in patients with MI undergoing PCI with control groups. Methods: We systematically searched four databases; PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane for studies conducted until March 2022. The inclusion criteria were any study design that compared TH in patients with MI undergoing PCI with a control group. Infarct size percentage and recurrent MI were primary efficacy outcomes. Mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and overall bleeding complications were primary safety outcomes. The risk of bias assessment of the included RCTs was conducted through Cochrane tool, while the quality of the included cohort studies was assessed by the NIH tool. The meta-analysis was performed on RevMan. Results: A total of 19 studies were included; 15 RCTs, one case-control, and three cohort studies. Infarct size percentage was significantly reduced in TH group as compared to control (MD= -1.76, 95% CI [-3.04, -0.47), p=0.007), but the TH group had a higher incidence of bleeding complications (OR= 1.88, 95% CI [1.11, 3.18), p=0.02). There were no significant differences between TH and control groups in mortality (OR= 1.06, 95% CI [0.75, 1.50), p=0.73) or recurrent MI (OR= 1.21, 95% CI [0.64, 2.30), p=0.56). Conclusion: In patients with MI, TH reduces infarct size while increasing bleeding complications. Mortality and recurrent MI outcomes are not significantly reduced.

Therapeutic hypothermia in patients with poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

ObjectiveTherapeutic hypothermia improves the prognosis of patients with poor-grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We investigated the clinical and radiological effects of therapeutic hypothermia in patients with poor-grade SAH. MethodsClinical and radiological data were compared between patients who underwent mild hypothermic treatment and those who underwent treatment without hypothermia. ResultsAmong 670 patients with SAH, 72 had poor-grade SAH. After early clipping or coiling of the aneurysm, 25 patients underwent mild hypothermia and the remaining 47 patients underwent no hypothermia. The medical complication occurrence rates were similar between the hypothermia treatment and control groups. Significantly, cerebral edema was reduced in patients in the hypothermia group (44 %) compared with those in the no-hypothermia group (9 %) (p = 0.025). The poor clinical outcome rate (modified Rankin scale score > 4) assessed at discharge (p = 1.000) and 3 months after admission (p = 0.688) was similar between the two groups. However, 1 month after admission, the mortality rate of the hypothermia group (20.0 %) was remarkably lower than that of the control group (46.8 %) (p = 0.025). Multivariate logistic regression showed the therapeutic hypothermia was the most effective treatment for decreasing the mortality (OR = 4.86, P = 0.023). ConclusionMild hypothermia treatment appears to be feasible and safe for patients with poor-grade SAH. The study supports mild hypothermia treatment and its neuroprotective effects in patients with poor-grade SAH.

The Use of Therapeutic Hypothermia in Patients Having Cardiac Arrest

The Use of Therapeutic Hypothermia in Patients Having Cardiac Arrest

Therapeutic hypothermia after resuscitated cardiac arrest: benefits in survival and neurological outcome

Abstract Introduction The benefits of therapeutic hypothermia in patients remaining in coma after resuscitated cardiac arrest are still controversial, specially for nonshockable rhythm. This study aims to assess the effects of this technique in survival and neurological outcome in comatous patients after resuscitated cardiac arrest. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients admitted to a Coronary Care Unit from 2006 to 2020 who remained in coma (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤10) after resuscitated cardiac arrest. We compared intrahospital mortality and neurological outcome at discharge between patients who were treated with therapeutic hypothermia and those who weren't. We used intravascular cooling catheter with a target core temperature of 33°C, which was maintained for 24 hours. We performed a subgroup analysis to compare shockable and nonshockable rhythm. Neurological outcome was evaluated with the Cerebral Performance Categories Scale (CPC), which considers survival without limiting disability (CPC 1–2) as favourable neurological outcome. Results A total of 272 patients were admitted at our Coronary Care Unit after resuscitated cardiac arrest. 182 patients remained in coma after cardiac arrest. The median age was 65.83±0.98 years and 29.1% were women. 70 patients (38.46%) were treated with therapeutic hypothermia – 44 (62.85%) of them had shockable rhythm at presentation and 26 (37.14%), nonshockable rhythm. When we analysed all patients with shockable rhythm, mortality was significantly lower in those treated with therapeutic hypothermia (25% vs 53.8%, p=0.004). In nonshockable rhythm, there was a tendency for lower mortality in the hypothermia group (73.1% vs. 85%, p=0.19). Regarding neurological outcomes, we observed that therapeutic hypothermia also improved neurological outcome at discharge in patients with initial shockable rhythm (CPC 1–2 in 68.2% vs. 26.9%, p&amp;lt;0.001). On the other hand, more patients with nonshockable rhythm had a CPC 1–2 with this technique, although these results didn't reach statistical significance (19.2% vs. 10%, p=0.24). Conclusions According to our experience, therapeutic hypothermia in patients who remained in coma after resuscitated cardiac arrest showed favourable results in survival and neurological outcome both in shockable and nonshockable rhythm. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Intrahospital MortalityGood neurological outcome at discharge

Hypothermia therapy for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the role of systemic therapeutic hypothermia remains controversial. We performed a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of systemic therapeutic hypothermia in patients with AMI receiving PCI.Methods:This study will use the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, China Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang Database, and Ongoing Clinical Trials Database. The search terms were hypothermia, cooling, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia and acute coronary syndrome. Quality assessment of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Statistical analyses were performed using RevMan 5.4 software.Results:The findings of this study will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication.Conclusion:This systematic review will provide evidence to determine whether hypothermia therapy is an effective and safe intervention for patients with AMI receiving PCI.Registration number: 10.17605/OSF.IO/9XJSB.

Timing of inducing therapeutic hypothermia in patients successfully resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia can improve neurological status in cardiac arrest survivors. Objectives: We investigated the association between the timing of inducing therapeutic hypothermia and neurological outcomes in patients who experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: We evaluated data from 116 patients who were comatose after return of spontaneous circulation and those who received therapeutic hypothermia between January 2013 and April 2017. The primary endpoint was good neurological outcomes during index hospitalization, defined as a cerebral performance category score of 1 or 2. Therapeutic hypothermia timing was defined as the duration from the return of spontaneous circulation to hypothermia initiation. We analyzed the effect of early hypothermia induction on neurological results. Results: In total, 112 patients were enrolled. The median duration to hypothermia initiation was 284 min (25th–75th percentile, 171–418 min). Eighty-two (69.5%) patients underwent hypothermia within 6 h, and 30 (25.4%) had good neurological outcomes. The rates of good neurological outcomes by hypothermia initiation time quartile (shortest to longest) were 28.3%, 34.5%, 14.8%, and 28.6% (p = 0.401). The good neurologic outcomes did not differ between hypothermia patients within 6 h or after (26.5% vs 26.7%, p = 0.986). Short low-flow time and bystander resuscitation were associated with good neurological outcomes (p = 0.044, confidence interval: 0.027–0.955), but the timing of hypothermia initiation was not (p = 0.602, confidence interval: 0.622–1.317). Conclusion: A shorter low-flow time was associated with good neurological outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who experienced hypothermia. However, inducing hypothermia sooner, even within 6 h, did not improve the neurological outcomes. Thus, as current guidelines recommend, initiating hypothermia within 6 h of recovery of spontaneous circulation is reasonable.

Therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest due to non-shockable rhythm: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:The effectiveness of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for patients following cardiac arrest with non-shockable rhythm is debated. We plan to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis with all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to explore the efficacy and safety of TH in in this population.Methods:PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library will be searched to identify RCTs published from inception through December 2020 without language restriction. Patients following cardiac arrest due to non-shockable rhythm will be included. The primary outcome is the hospital mortality. The secondary outcome is the favorable neurological outcome. The pooled effects will be analyzed as mean differences using the inverse-variance method for continuous data or as risk ratios using the Mantel–Haenszel method for dichotomous data. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will be conducted. The Egger's test and/or the funnel plot will be used to test the publication bias. The grades of recommendation assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) methodology will be used to assess the quality of evidence. The trial sequential analysis will be used to test whether the meta-analysis is conclusive.Results:The RCTs on the effectiveness of TH for patients following cardiac arrest with non-shockable rhythm will be systematically reviewed and advance evidence will be provided.Conclusion:Advanced evidence of TH for cardiac arrest due to non-shockable rhythm will be provided for physicians.PROSPERO registration number:CRD42020161823.

Therapeutic Hypothermia in Patients with Malignant Ischemic Stroke and Hemicraniectomy—A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) offers cerebral protection following ischemic stroke and may improve outcomes in conjunction with decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC). We aimed to assess the effectiveness of TH in patients with malignant ischemic stroke and DHC. We performed a meta-analysis in patients with malignant ischemic stroke undergoing DHC comparing TH versus normothermia in studies published up to August 2019. Included studies had ≥10 adults with acute ischemic stroke. Primary outcome was functional independence, and secondary outcomes included complications. Effect size was pooled and described by relative risk (RR) ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Five studies (n= 269 patients; n= 130 TH, n= 139 controls) were included, 4 of which were prospective (n= 2 randomized controlled trials). Median achieved body temperature of TH was 33.6°C (range 33°C-35°C). Median modified Rankin Scale at the study completion was similar between TH and controls (RR 1.08, 95% CI 0.56-2.07, P= 0.8). Three studies reported individual patient modified Rankin Scale outcomes demonstrated a shift toward worse outcomes with TH (unadjusted common odds ratio 1.74; 95% CI 1.05-2.88, P= 0.01). Overall complications were similar between groups (RR 1.20, 95% CI 0.70-2.05, random effects P= 0.5). A suggestion of higher mortality was seen in TH (RR 1.50, 95% CI 0.97-2.32, P= 0.07). Clinical and functional outcomes were not overall different between patients undergoing systemic TH and controls following DHC despite the shift toward worse outcomes with TH observed in some studies.

Hypothermia as an adjuvant treatment in paediatric refractory or super-refractory status epilepticus.

Therapeutic hypothermia is among the adjuvant therapies suggested for refractory or super-refractory status epilepticus (R/SR-SE) in paediatric patients. Experimental evidence of neuroprotective and antiseizure effects provides a strong rationale for using therapeutic hypothermia in patients with status epilepticus. Thus, hypothermia between 20°C and 33°C in animals with status epilepticus is associated not only with significantly less neuronal damage, predominantly in the hippocampal CA1, CA2, and CA3 areas, but also with increased seizure latency and decreased seizure frequency and duration. Therapeutic hypothermia has rarely been used in paediatric R/SR-SE. In the few reported cases, seizure control was markedly improved but nearly half the patients experienced recurrences after rewarming. Studies are needed to clarify the modalities and indications of therapeutic hypothermia in paediatric patients with R/SR-SE. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Hypothermia at 20°C to 33°C is neuroprotective and hasantiseizureeffects in experimental status epilepticus. In children, antiseizure effects are marked but recurrences after rewarming are common.

Additional Prognostic Factors Other Than Therapeutic Hypothermia in Patients with Cardiac Arrest.

Additional Prognostic Factors Other Than Therapeutic Hypothermia in Patients with Cardiac Arrest.

Impact of Body Temperature Before and After Endovascular Thrombectomy for Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke.

Background and Purpose- In ischemic stroke, body temperature is associated with functional outcome. However, the relationship between temperature and outcome may differ in the intraischemic and postischemic phases of stroke. We aimed to determine whether body temperature before or after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for large vessel occlusion stroke is associated with clinical outcomes. Methods- Consecutive EVT patients were identified from a prospective registry. Temperature measurements within 24 hours of admission were stratified into pre-EVT (preprocedural and intraprocedural) and post-EVT measurements, which served as surrogates for the intraischemic and postischemic phases of large vessel occlusion stroke, respectively. The primary outcome was functional independence, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0, 1, or 2 at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included the ordinal shift of modified Rankin Scale scores at 3 months, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and mortality at 3 months. Results- Four hundred thirty-two participants were included (59% men, mean±SD age 65.6±15.7 years). Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that higher median pre-EVT temperature (per 1°C increase) was an independent predictor of reduced functional independence (odds ratio [OR], 0.66 [95% CI, 0.46-0.94]; P=0.02), poorer modified Rankin Scale scores (common OR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.08-1.85]; P=0.01), and increased mortality (OR, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.02-2.69]; P=0.04). Peak post-EVT temperature (per 1°C increase) was a significant predictor of elevated modified Rankin Scale scores (common OR, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.03-1.90]; P=0.03) and higher mortality (OR, 1.66 [95% CI, 1.04-2.67]; P=0.03). Conclusions- In patients with large vessel occlusion stroke treated with EVT, higher body temperatures during both the intraischemic and postischemic phases were associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Future research investigating the maintenance of normothermia or therapeutic hypothermia in patients needing to be transferred from primary to EVT-capable stroke centers could be considered.

Abstract WP117: Therapeutic Hypothermia in Patients With Malignant Ischemic Stroke and Hemicraniectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Numerous animal models have demonstrated the efficacy of mild to moderate therapeutic hypothermia (TH) in reducing cerebral edema and conferring protection after ischemic injury. We investigated whether TH had a beneficial effect in stroke patients after hemicraniectomy (HC). Methods: A MEDLINE systematic review was performed. Inclusion criteria included: ≥10 patients with acute malignant ischemic stroke having undergone HC, studies published in full in the English language, and studies reporting on clinical outcome and complications. Results: Thirty-four studies met our search criteria. Six studies with 302 patients with malignant ischemic stroke (TH: n=146, HC alone: n=156) were included. Age, and initial median NIHSS were comparable between the two groups. All studies used systemic TH; four utilized combined TH (venous endovascular and surface cooling), while one study used systemic surface and one used systemic venous endovascular TH. TH was initiated within 37.2 hours (range 24-42 hours) from onset for a median target temperature of TH was 33.6°C (range 33-35°C) and maintained for a median of 72 hours (range 48-96 hours). Target temperature was achieved within 4.5 hours (range 2-36 hours). All studies used rewarming (3 active rewarming). Clinical outcomes at follow-up were not different (follow-up modified Rankin’s 0-2; RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.60-1.80, p=0.9; Figure 1). Cardiac complications were greater in TH (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.16-2.76, p&lt;0.01). A suggestion of greater mortality was seen with TH (RR 1.43, 95% CI 0.97-2.10, p=0.07), and was significantly greater in studies that did not actively rewarm patients (RR 1.65, 95% CI 1.04-2.60, p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Clinical and functional outcomes were comparable between patients undergoing systemic TH vs. normothermia following HC despite higher complications associated with TH.

Therapeutic hypothermia after out of hospital cardiac arrest improve 1-year survival rate for selective patients.

Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH) is a standard of care after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Previous reports failed to prove a significant benefit for survival or neurological outcomes. We examined whether the proper selection of patients would enhance treatment efficacy. We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Data was collected from January 2000 and August 2018. Patients were enrolled after OHCA and classified into two groups, patients treated with TH and patients who were not treated with TH. A total of 92 patients were included in the study. 57 (63%) patients were in the TH Group and 34 (37%) in the Non-TH group. There was no statistical difference in favorable neurological outcomes between the groups. Patients presenting with ventricular fibrillation had a higher 1-year survival rate from TH, while patients with asystole were found to benefit only if they were younger than 65 years (p < .007, p < .02, respectively). Therapeutic Hypothermia patients failed to demonstrate a significant benefit in terms of improved neurological outcomes. Patients treated with TH following ventricular fibrillation experienced the most benefit in terms of 1-year survival, while patients who had suffered from asystole experienced a modest benefit only if they were younger than 65 years of age. Guidelines should address age and primary arrhythmia for proper treatment selection.