with therapeutic hypothermia ± an intentional reduction in body or brain temperature by a few degrees often for periods of 12 hours or more (e.g., 24 hours at 32 °C). In rodent models of global and focal ischemia, we find that cooling is a superior neuroprotectant that results in lasting reductions in brain injury

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Related to Research by Hartemink et al., see Issue 8.5, page 395 Randomised, controlled trials of therapeutic hypothermia have demonstrated improved outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, where the initial cardiac rhythm was ventricular fibrillation. This therapy is now endorsed

Objective—To compare the association between perinatal events and the pattern and extent of brain injury on early MRI in newborns with and without therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Study design—We performed a cohort study of 35 treated and 25 non-treated neonates

has been established as an effective treatment for pre-serving neurological function after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA). Use of TH has been limited in cardiac surgery patients in particular because of concern about adverse effects such as hemorrhage and dysrhythmia. Little pub-lished data describe effi cacy or safety of TH in cardiac sur-gical patients who suffer unintentional CA. However, the benefi ts of TH are such as may suggest clinical equipoise, even in this high-risk patient popula-tion. Objective. To report a series of 3 patients in our institution’s cardiac surgery ICU who suffered unintentional CA within 48 hours of cardiac surgery and were treated with TH. Methods. After institu-tional review board approval, study patients were identifi ed by diagnosis of undesired intraoperative

has been established as an effective treatment for pre-serving neurological function after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA). Use of TH has been limited in cardiac surgery patients in particular because of concern about adverse effects such as hemorrhage and dysrhythmia. Little pub-lished data describe effi cacy or safety of TH in cardiac sur-gical patients who suffer unintentional CA. However, the benefi ts of TH are such as may suggest clinical equipoise, even in this high-risk patient popula-tion. Objective. To report a series of 3 patients in our institution’s cardiac surgery ICU who suffered unintentional CA within 48 hours of cardiac surgery and were treated with TH. Methods. After institu-tional review board approval, study patients were identifi ed by diagnosis of undesired intraoperative

Much has been written about the incredible life of Peter Safar (Fig. 1), inventor of modern-day CPR, pioneer in anesthesiology, critical care medicine, emergency medicine, and disaster reanimatology, and humanist and mentor to countless clinicians, scientists, and students. For any of you who are interested in learning more about this incredible man, a comprehensive review of Peter’s contributions to resuscitation can be found in a two-part series written by Peter Baskett and published in the journal Resuscitation.1,2 Peter Safar’s autobiography is also available through the Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology, and provides remarkable detail on both his academic and personal endeavors.3 Finally, Drs. Patrick Kochanek, Ake Grenvik, and John Schaefer and Ms. Fran Mistrick assembled a Festschrift in honor of Dr. Safar, published in February 2004, as an entire freestanding

such as intracellular adhesion mol-ecule-1 (ICAM-1) are frequently cited in the literature. Controversy exists as to whether these “hypoxic ag-gressors ” can be modified favorably by the use of thera-peutic hypothermia. This review focus on the role of these different molecules, chemicals and cells and the protective

Abstract Controlled whole-body cooling has been used since the 1950s to protect the brain from injury where cerebral blood flow is reduced. Therapeutic hypothermia has been used successfully during heart surgery, following cardiac arrest and with varied success in other instances of reduced blood

pre- to post-THAM administration. Mannitol, therapeutic hypothermia, and paralytics were avoided in all patients. Conclusions. Early administration of THAM for ICP control could potentially lead to the avoidance of other