Preclinical use of mild therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest by the emergency services in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

BackgroundDuring the last decade target temperature management has become an integral part of postresuscitation care. Within recent years there was astrong debate about the optimal target temperature, which might have effects on the preclinical induction of hypothermia. The present investigation focuses on the use of mild therapeutic hypothermia by emergency services in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany) and compares it to results of aprior study in 2008.MethodsBetween April and August 2014 aquestionnaire was sent to all senior emergency physicians of emergency services in Baden Wurttemberg. The survey period was April to August of 2014. Parts of the questionnaire were similar to aprevious one in 2008, to ensure comparability to the former data; other parts were added to set new focuses. The data were analyzed in anonymized form.ResultsThe response rate was 72.4% (97/134). Of the 97sites which responded to the questionnaire significantly more use preclinical hypothermia, compared to 2008 (72.2% [70/97] vs. 41.7%); 62.9% (44/70) declare cooling resuscitated patients routinely (vs. 17.7% in 2008). Cold infusions (85.7%), icepacks (64.3%), passive cooling (37.1%), nasal cooling (2.9%) and cooling caps (1.4%) are used (multiple naming was possible). Sites that did not use mild therapeutic hypothermia stated the following reasons: lack of equipment, short transport time and missing data for the intervention. Four sites reported on complications with therapeutic hypothermia.ConclusionThe present investigation shows an increased use of preclinical cooling after cardiopulmonary resuscitation as compared to 2008. Therefore, recent discussions concerning the optimal target temperature in postresuscitation care did not result in awaiving of preclinical therapeutic strategies in Baden-Wurttemberg. The emergency services sites/locations estimated the complication rates of mild therapeutic hypothermia as very low. Lack of equipment seems to be the main reason to refuse the preclinical use of therapeutic hypothermia. In conclusion, preclinical mild therapeutic hypothermia has become an integral part in the standard care of resuscitated patients in Baden-Wurttemberg.