VELOCITY: Peritoneal hypothermia in patients undergoing primary angioplasty

There are clinics hypothesis that systemic hypothermia (≤34.9) could reduce infarct size if set before reperfusion. Peritoneal lavage had a well-established safety profile and given the large surface area of the bowel may cause rapid hypothermia reducing infarct size.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hypothermia induced by peritoneal lavage in patients undergoing an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction receiving primary angioplasty. The study randomized 54 patients (26 primary angioplasty and 28 hypothermia followed by primary angioplasty). At 30 days, no events were observed in the control group, versus 21.4% in the other control group included (death, re-infarction, target vessel revascularization, major bleeding, sepsis, pneumonia, peritonitis, severe arrhythmias, renal failure, and stent thrombosis. 

Original title: A Prospective, Randomized Trial of Peritoneal Hypothermia in Patients with Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.