Helping Mr. S
Mr. S was considered a good candidate
for therapeutic hypothermia, which was
initiated in the ED. After being rapidly
cooled, he was transferred to the ICU. On
day 3, he was awake and responding to
simple commands. On day 4, Mr. S was
extubated. He demonstrated some mild
neurologic deficits (extremity weakness
and slowed speech) and was discharged
to a rehabilitation facility on day 10.
Therapeutic hypothermia for select patients experiencing ROSC after cardiac arrest is a valid intervention in which nurses play a vital role.
Understanding the physiologic basis for therapeutic hypothermia, as well as the responsibilities related to patient care, are the keys to achieving optimal patient outcomes.