Contemporary targeted temperature management: Clinical evidence and controversies

Advancements in cardiac arrest and post-cardiac arrest care have led to improved survival to hospital discharge. While survival to hospital discharge is an important clinical outcome, neurologic recovery is also a priority. With the advancement of targeted temperature management (TTM), the American Heart Association guidelines for post-cardiac arrest care recommend TTM in patients who remain comatose after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Recently, the TTM2 randomized controlled trial found no significant difference in neurologic function and mortality at 6-months between traditional hypothermia to 33 degrees C versus 37.5 degrees C. While TTM has been evaluated for decades, current literature suggests that the use of TTM to 33 degrees when compared to a protocol of targeted normothermia does not result in improved outcomes. Instead, perhaps active avoidance of fever may be most beneficial. Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation and membrane oxygenation can provide a means of both hemodynamic support and TTM after ROSC. This review aims to describe the pathophysiology, physiologic aspects, clinical trial evidence, changes in post-cardiac arrest care, potential risks, as well as controversies of TTM.