Low cerebral blood flow after cardiac arrest is not associated with anaerobic cerebral metabolism.

Aim Of The Study: Estimation of cerebral anaerobic metabolism in survivors and non-survivors after cardiac arrest.

Methods: We performed an observational study in twenty comatose patients after cardiac arrest and 19 healthy control subjects. We measured mean flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MFV) by transcranial Doppler.

Seventy-two hours of mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest is associated with a lowered inflammatory response during rewarming in a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Whole-body ischemia and reperfusion trigger a systemic inflammatory response. In this study, we analyzed the effect of temperature on the inflammatory response in patients treated with prolonged mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Methods: Ten comatose patients with return of spontaneous circulation after pulseless electrical activity/asystole or prolonged ventricular fibrillation were treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia for 72 hours after admission to a tertiary care university hospital.

Effects of viscosity on cerebral blood flow after cardiac arrest.

Objectives: To determine blood viscosity in adult comatose patients treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest and to assess the relation between blood viscosity, cerebral blood flow, and cerebral oxygen extraction.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Tertiary care university hospital.

On-line blood viscosity monitoring in vivo with a central venous catheter, using electrical impedance technique.

Blood viscosity is an important determinant of microvascular hemodynamics and also reflects systemic inflammation. Viscosity of blood strongly depends on the shear rate and can be characterized by a two parameter power-law model. Other major determinants of blood viscosity are hematocrit, level of inflammatory proteins and temperature.

Effects of prolonged mild hypothermia on cerebral blood flow after cardiac arrest.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen extraction in adult patients after pulseless electrical activity/asystole or resistant ventricular fibrillation who were treated with mild therapeutic hypothermia for 72 hrs.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Tertiary care university hospital.

Rewarming after hypothermia after cardiac arrest shifts the inflammatory balance.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to simultaneously analyze the key components of the cerebral and systemic inflammatory response over time in cardiac arrest patients during mild therapeutic hypothermia and rewarming.

Design And Setting: Clinical observational study in a tertiary care university hospital.

Patients: Ten comatose patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Predictors of poor neurologic outcome in patients after cardiac arrest treated with hypothermia: a retrospective study.

Introduction: Outcome studies in patients with anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy focus on the early and reliable prediction of an outcome no better than a vegetative state or severe disability. We determined the effect of mild therapeutic hypothermia on the validity of the currently used clinical practice parameters.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult comatose patients after cardiac arrest treated with hypothermia.

Influence of mild therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest on hospital mortality.

Objective: Following two randomized controlled trials that demonstrated reduced mortality and better neurological outcome in cardiac arrest patients, mild therapeutic hypothermia was implemented in many intensive care units. Up to now, no large observational studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of mild therapeutic hypothermia.

Design: Internet-based survey combined with a retrospective, observational study.

Preserved metabolic coupling and cerebrovascular reactivity during mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest.

Objective: Although mild hypothermia improves outcome in patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the cardiodepressive effects of hypothermia may lead to secondary brain damage. This study was performed to assess the cerebral blood flow, cerebral oxygen extraction, and cerebrovascular reactivity to changes in partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood in comatose patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated with mild hypothermia.

Design: Observational study.