Induction of therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest in prehospital patients using ice-cold Ringer's solution: a pilot study

The cooling and haemodynamic effects of prehospital infusion of ice-cold Ringer's solution were studied in 13 adult patients after successful resuscitation from non-traumatic cardiac arrest. After haemodynamics stabilisation, 30 ml/kg of Ringer's solution was infused at a rate of 100 ml/min into the antecubital vein. Arterial blood pressure and blood gases, pulse rate, end-tidal CO2 and oesophageal temperature were monitored closely. The mean core temperature decreased from 35.8 +/- 0.9 degreesC at the start of infusion to 34.0 +/- 1.2 degreesC on arrival at hospital (P < 0.0001). No serious adverse haemodynamic effects occurred. It is concluded that the induction of therapeutic hypothermia using this technique in the prehospital setting is feasible. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.