Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia Induced by Intravenous Ice Cold Saline: Comparison Between Forearm Vein and External Jugular Vein Access
Abstract
Results of randomized trials have shown that mild therapeutic hypothermia improves clinical outcome in patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation for non-traumatic cardiac arrest, where ventricular fibrillation, as the first heart rhythm, was recorded [1-3]. When induction of mild therapeutic hypothermia is indicated, the target is to reach a core temperature of 32 - 34 °C within four hours and maintain this temperature for 12 - 24 hours [1].
In addition to the use of automated cooling devices, intravenous administration of an ice cold crystalloid solution is still used in both hospital and pre-hospital services for induction of hypothermia. Ice cold normal saline can be given by either peripheral or central venous catheters.
To our knowledge, there are no data on the differences in rate and efficiency of cooling relative to the venous access point. The aim of our study was to compare core temperature changes induced by ice cold normal saline administration into a forearm vein compared to administration into an external jugular vein.