Determinants of cardiac repolarization and risk for ventricular arrhythmias during mild therapeutic hypothermia.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the factors that modulate the extent of QTc prolongation and potential arrhythmogenic consequences during mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH).

Methods: We studied 205 patients after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (131 underwent MTH). QTc was measured at baseline, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h (end of hypothermia), 48h and 72h, and ventricular arrhythmias quantified.