Litigation

Brain damage can be prevented in cardiac patients with cooling therapy

By Michael Kaplen

In recognition that prompt cooling therapy can reduce the chance of brain damage in patients suffering from cardiac arrest, the City of New York has taken the important step of requiring ambulances to only take cardiac patient's to hospitals that offer this therapy. This new policy will become effective on January 1, 2009.

New York is joining several other cities including Seattle, Boston and Miami in requiring transport to hospitals with cooling systems.  Studies have shown that if a patient's body temperature can be cooled to 8 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, brain damage can be reduced or minimized following cardiac arrest.  Studies on the effectiveness of this type of therapy have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine and have been endorsed by the American Heart Association. 

Hopefully more hospitals will acquire the necessary equipment and expertise in this area. 

You can read more on cooling therapy following cardiac arrest by clicking here.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on December 08, 2008 (boomark / email).