Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia - Essay Example failure of the heart to effectively contract during systole. Out-of -hospital cardiac arrest is a leading cause of unexpected death in the developed world, occurring in about 1 in 1,500 adult each year (Bernard, 2004). Prognosis after cardiac arrest with an overall survival rate of less than 6%, is unfavorable. Cardiac arrest outcomes depend on the rhythym: 33% of patients with ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia survive, comparing with less than 2% of patients with asystolic or pulseless electrical activity. Other rhythyms and cardiac arrest complications/conditions which comprise less than 2% include subarachnoid hemorrhage or trauma, pregnant women, pediatrics, coma after near-drowning, hanging and other causes of asphyxia. About 60% of cardiac arrest survivors regain consciousness; of these, one-third experience irreversible cognitive disabilities. Emergency life support focus on early aggressive resuscitation; but unluckily, most patients who survive do sustain anoxic brain injury (Green, 2007). Anoxic brain injury is that condition wherein the brain is severely deprived of oxygen. The blood is unable to flow to the brain due to bleeding or injury. After cardiac arrest, chemical cascades resulting in brain injury are created by the free radicals and other mediators in the brain. Three phases of brain injury after hypoxic insult are identified: early, intermediate and late (Howes, 2005). The early stage is described as the utilization of glucose, oxygen and energy due to the directThe Use 4 cessation of blood flow in the brain. The intermediate...Emergency life support focus on early aggressive resuscitation; but unluckily, most patients who survive do sustain anoxic brain injury (Green, 2007). Anoxic brain injury is that condition wherein the brain is severely deprived of oxygen. The blood is unable to flow to the brain due to bleeding or injury. After cardiac arrest, chemical cascades resulting in brain injury are created by the free radicals and other mediators in the brain. Three phases of brain injury after hypoxic insult are identified: early, intermediate and late (Howes, 2005). The early stage is described as the utilization of glucose, oxygen and energy due to the direct cessation of blood flow in the brain. The intermediate phase is described as the release of neurotoxic mediators and excitatory amino acids in the brain, occurring hours post arrest. The late phase occurs when cerebral edema and blood-drain barrier are increased. Seizures and Sample.