Q: Which doctor should I consult for therapeutic hypothermia?
A: Therapeutic hypothermia is initiated during emergencies and patients would have to rush to the Emergency unit of a hospital.
Q: How are student athletes benefited from this procedure?
A: Students athletes are at a higher risk for cardiac arrest due to strenuous workouts. The neurological effects of the arrest post care can affect the quality of their life drastically, as they are still very young. The use of therapeutic hypothermia will benefit this community considerably.
Q: Will cooling the body temperature before the patient reaches the hospital benefit the patient?
A: Hypothermia should be carried out in controlled environments with the right monitoring equipment. However, the use of cooling pads by trained staff even before the patient reaches the emergency unit has found to benefit the patient’s recovery process.
Q: What is the effect of therapeutic hypothermia on insulin levels?
A: Patients undergoing therapeutic hypothermia are at an increased risk for hyperglycemia due to lowered secretion of insulin. They are normally monitored and provided with insulin injections. However, with a return to normal temperature, the patient could become hypoglycemic very rapidly due to the secretion of the body’s own insulin.
Q: How is the temperature checked for a patient on therapeutic hypothermia?
A: The temperature for the patient is checked using highly sensitive rectal, esophageal or bladder probes.
Q: What is the restricted age for conducting therapeutic hypothermia for a patient?
A: The age of the patient should be over 18years and below 50 years.
Q: Can all cardiac arrest patients be considered for therapeutic hypothermia?
A: Non traumatic cardiac arrest patients who have a spontaneous return of circulation and who reach the emergency unit of a hospital within 6 hours of the event may be considered for therapeutic hyperthermia.
