Induced Moderate Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest - American ...

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Figure 1: Arctic Sun noninvasive automatic temperature control device. Used with permission from
Medivance Corporation.
inserted into the femoral vein. Once the
catheter is connected to the control module,
cold water circulates through the balloons on
the tip of the catheter. The blood is cooled as it
passes by the balloons. Invasive methods such
as the CoolGard 3000 require the placement of a
catheter by a physician credentialed in placing
central venous catheters. This carries the risk of
any central venous catheter, including bleeding,
infection, deep vein thrombosis, vascular puncture,
and pneumothorax, if placed in the chest.
However, patients requiring induced hypothermia
usually will also need a central venous
catheter for other interventions such as medication
administration and frequent blood draws.
The central venous catheter, such as the catheters
that accompany the CoolGard 3000, have 3 ports
that may be used as infusion ports while cooling
or warming the patient. It may continue to be
used as a central venous catheter once the
hypothermia procedure is completed. 13,18
Extensive research has not been conducted
that examines which method produces the best
outcome for the patient. Hoedemaekers and
colleagues 19 compared the use of iced intravenous
fluids followed by ice packs (conventional
cooling); an air-circulating cooling
system that used 1 blanket over the patient; a
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