Previous studies evaluated therapeutic hypothermia (32 ° C to 34 ° C for 12-24 hours) in patients who remain unconscious after resuscitation from cardiac arrest showing improvement in neurological recovery and survived. However, the ideal temperature is not set.
This study enrolled 950 patients in 36 centers in Europe and Australia and randomized to hypothermia (33 ° C) or normothermia. The primary end point was death from all causes and the secondary a combination of death and neurological dysfunction at 180 days. The primary end point occurred in 50 % of the hypothermia group and 48 % in the normothermia group (HR 1.06 , 95% CI 0.89 to 1.28 , P = .51 ) . The results for the secondary end point were also similar.
Conclusion:
In unaware survivors of cardiac arrest outside hospital, hypothermia at a temperature of 33 ° C does not provide benefits versus normothermia.
Niklas Nielsen
2013-11-17
Original title: TTM trial: Targeted Temperature Management at 33°C versus 36°C after Cardiac Arrest
