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Why hypothermia can save the lives of patients with cardiac arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest is a major public health challenge worldwide, causing significant mortality. However, advances in modern medical technology have given us the opportunity to use hypothermia therapy to improve the survival rate and prognosis of these patients. This technology, called Targeted Temperature Management (TTM), has received widespread attention in recent years.
Principles of Hypothermia Therapy
The core idea of hypothermia therapy is to reduce the metabolic demand of the brain by lowering the patient's body temperature, thereby reducing brain damage caused by lack of oxygen. Studies have shown that for every degree Celsius drop in body temperature, the metabolic rate of cells decreases by 5% to 7%. This can effectively prevent cell death caused by lack of oxygen and promote recovery.
Not only that, lowering body temperature can also reduce the production of neurotransmitters such as glutamate and reduce the generation of free radicals, which are important factors causing brain damage.
Application in Cardiac Arrest Patients
According to the 2013 International Guidelines on Cardiac Resuscitation, hypothermia should be considered for patients after resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that keeping a patient's body temperature between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius can significantly improve survival rates and brain function, especially for those who fail to regain consciousness after cardiac arrest.
A Cochrane review found that lowering body temperature to around 33°C could reduce the risk of brain damage by 40%. This is because cooling can prevent the heating that is common after cardiac arrest, which is a major factor in subsequent damage.
Implementation methods
There are a variety of methods available to the medical community to deliver hypothermia, including cooling blankets, cooling caps, and cooling catheters. These methods have their own characteristics, and the most appropriate method can be selected according to the medical environment and patient condition.
For example, cooling catheters lower a patient's body temperature by circulating chilled saline solution, a method that reaches the target temperature more quickly without disrupting other medical procedures.
While the benefits of hypothermia are clear, there are also some potential risks, including infection, bleeding, and electrolyte imbalance. During hypothermia therapy, the medical team must closely monitor the patient's condition to reduce the risk of adverse reactions.
Future Outlook
With the advancement of technology, the application of hypothermia therapy will no longer be limited to cardiac arrest. In the future, we look forward to further verification of its effectiveness in other medical fields, especially in traumatic brain injury and stroke.
However, for now, hypothermia therapy has demonstrated its irreplaceable value in emergency treatment of cardiac arrest.
