Brain cooling 'safe for cardiac arrest patients'RSS Feed

Using brain cooling to treat cardiac arrest patients is a safe and effective treatment for brain injury, according to new guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

Therapeutic hypothermia involves cooling the brain, lowering the body temperature to 32 to 34 degrees C, which slows down the rate of cell damage.

The controversial treatment has sparked debate among medical professionals, with some worried about the risks, but the new guidance means that more doctors may consider using it as a treatment option for people at risk of brain injury following a cardiac arrest.

Professor Bruce Campbell, chair of the committee which produced the guidance, explained that research had shown the treatment to increase chances of survival in patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest.

"The therapy can also reduce the risk of severe brain damage, which can occur when blood flow to the brain is disturbed," he added.

This comes after scientists from the University of Edinburgh found that lowering the body temperature could curb brain injury in stroke patients.

By using a combination of cold intravenous drips and cooling pads, doctors were able to reduce the body temperature to 35 degrees C, which effectively put the brain into hibernation.

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Posted by Matthew Dixon
 

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