Trial focuses on duration of therapeutic hypothermia for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests
Each year, more than 250,000 people in the United States experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Approximately 90% of patients do not survive.
A new study led by researchers at the University of Michigan has found that extending therapeutic hypothermia for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests beyond six hours does not improve patient outcomes. The Influence of Cooling duration on Efficacy in Cardiac Arrest Patient, or ICECAP trial, examined 1,158 adults who experienced cardiac arrest between 2020-2025 at 71 U.S. hospitals.
The trial found that outcomes remained consistent regardless of the cooling duration, ranging from six to 72 hours. Lead investigator William Meurer, MD, noted that the study aimed to determine whether longer cooling periods were more effective than previously used durations, given that laboratory experiments had suggested so. The research, published in JAMA, revealed that survival rates remained unchanged and that some patients even regained consciousness after prolonged recovery.
The findings suggest that while therapeutic hypothermia continues to be beneficial, the duration of cooling may not be a critical factor in improving outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.
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