alue in survivors cardiac arrest. In the Australian study, which involved 77
             patients who remained comatose after the restoration of spontaneous circulation, 49% of
             those treated with hypothermia were discharged home or into a rehabilitation facility
             compared to the 26% of those not treated with hypothermia. There were no significant
             differences between the 2 groups with respect to the frequency of adverse events. The
             out come of the European study, which involved 9 center in 5 countries and had a larger
             number of patients, were similar. Taken together, the findings in these trials are important,
             because in the United States so far, permanent brain damage after cardiopulmonary-
             cerebral resuscitation causes many delayed deaths and is seen in about 10to 30 percent of
             survivors of out-of hospital cardiac arrest. The fact that 2 studies yielded similar results
             makes the important conclusions even more compelling. The rationale for the use of
             therapeutic hypothermia is complex. Spontaneous uncontrolled hypothermia start with
             potential deleterious shivering, thermo genesis , catecholamine release, and
             vasoconstriction, there as controlled hypothermia is potentially beneficial. Therapeutic
             hypothermia after cardiac arrest, as used in the 2 stories above, is directed at mitigating
             neurological injury. Temperature levels are important; mild hypothermia (33°C to 36°C)
             may be most effective, and is simple and safe. Moderate hypothermia (28°C to 32°C) can
             cause arrhythmias or even ventricular fibrillation and if prolonged, can lead to
             coagulopathy and infection. The timing and duration are important; mild hypothermia
             should be initiated as soon as possible after resuscitation, but even
             ...