The use of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is becoming more widespread in the treatment of nontraumatic cardiac arrest and traumatic brain injury. Patients sustaining one of these two conditions may benefit from a controlled state of mild hypothermia, in which healthcare providers lower body temperature in an effort to help recovery. This new treatment, which is still being fully explored, is starting to be implemented by ambulance services and Emergency Departments across the country. This paper seeks to outline the use of TH in cardiac arrest and traumatic brain injury, discussing the benefits, costs, and possible directions for further research.
Therapeutic Hypothermia in Cardiac Arrest