Hypothermia Protocol

Nurses General Nursing

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I was wondering if anyone can provide input on a hypothermia protocol for post arrest patients? At your facility are these patients 1:1 nursing? if so, how long? What facility do you work at that has 1:1 nursing?

Specializes in SICU, CCU, MCU, peds, physician's office.

I work at a facility in South Florida and these patients are 1:1 through the entire cooling and rewarming process. That is approximately 36 hours.

Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.

given that a lot of these protocols require a level 3 critical care bed - because you are doing multisystem organ support it goes with the territory that they will be nursed 1:1 -

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Are you talking adults or peds? In NICU those patients are 2:1 for the first 24 hours (at least in our unit) then they are 1:1 for the rest of the time until they have been rewarmed for 24 hours.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Guideline of Care

Increased brain temperature contributes to ischemic brain damage in patients post cardiac arrest. Studies have shown that lowering brain temperature, even by a few degrees decreases, ischemic damage. In studies of out of hospital cardiac arrest, induced hypothermia protocols have contributed to improved neurological outcomes.

Patient Selection

Patients who have been shown to benefit from induced hypothermia include:

  1. Those unresponsive within a six-hour post cardiac arrest time window.
  2. Those able to maintain a blood pressure, with or without pressors, after CPR.
  3. The Stroke Service should be consulted to assess and document the comatose state prior to the initiation of hypothermia.

Relative Exclusion Criteria

Patients in whom hypothermia may come with increased risk include those with:

  1. Major head trauma - if clinical suspicion for possible head injury with arrest, a non-contrast head CT must be performed to rule out intracerebral hemorrhage prior to cooling.
  2. Recent major surgery within 14 days - hypothermia may increase the risk of infection and bleeding.
  3. Systemic infection/sepsis- hypothermia inhibits immune function and is associated with an increased risk of infection.
  4. Patients in coma from other causes (drug intoxication, pre-existing coma prior to arrest).
  5. Patients with active ongoing bleeding - hypothemia may impair the clotting system. Check PT/PTT, fibrinogen, D-dimer at admission. (Note – patients may receive chemical thrombolysis, antiplatelet agents, or anticoagulants if deemed necessary in the treatment of the primary cardiac condition.)

Induced hypothermia after PEA, asystolic, or in-hospital arrest has not been studied, but may be applied at the discretion of the treating physicians. Induced hypothermia is not recommended for patients with an isolated respiratory arrest.

Goal: If criteria are met, the patient is cooled using the induced hypothermia protocol for 24 hours to a goal temperature of 32-34° C (89-93° F). The patient should be cooled to the target temperature as quickly as possible. The 24-hour time period is from the time of initiation of cooling (i.e. NOT the time the target temperature is reached).

Preparation

Shivering, our body's attempt at maintaining homeostasis, is a concern when trying to achieve a hypothermic state. Shivering is considered very uncomfortable, and it generates heat, thereby impairing the ability to achieve the target temperature. Additionally, the resultant energy expenditure is likely detrimental to the metabolic status of the acutely injured brain. Thus, it is necessary to sedate and paralyze the patient for the duration of the therapy.

Cooling must be done rapidly to achieve maximum effectiveness, and should be instituted as early as possible. Most studies have found it necessary to use both cooling blankets and ice packs to achieve the temperature goal. Other methods such as ice lavage, cold saline infusion, etc. may be used to help achieve target temperature. The most rapid methods of cooling include the use of surface cooling systems (e.g. Arctic Sun) or intravascular cooling device systems.

  1. Place arterial line for blood pressure monitoring.
  2. A continuous temperature monitor will aid in the cooling process and prevents "overcooling."
    • A bladder temperature probe is used to monitor the temperature.
    • Esophogeal catheter may be used, if available.

[*]It is recommended that a secondary temperature device (Exergen) be used to also monitor temperature. The bladder probe is only accurate when there is adequate urine output; therefore, an alternative to the bladder temperature probe is required in the setting of oliguria. This alternative temperature probe can be any core temperature monitor that is compatible with the Arctic Sun console.

Methods

  1. External cooling with cooling blankets and ice:

    1. Eligibility confirmed and materials gathered.
    2. Obtain two cooling blankets and cables (one machine) to "sandwich" the patient. The bottom blanket should have a sheet covering it to protect patient's skin. Place the top blanket over a sheet.
    3. Cisatracurium (Nimbex) via microinfusion for paralysis - 150mcg/kg bolus, maintenance dose 2 mcg/kg/min. Neither the BIS or the train of four have evidence for their use during hypothermia and are not recommended.
    4. Propofol (Diprivan) for sedation - Bolus (optional) 0.3-0.5mg/kg followed by an infusion 1mg/kg/hr while patient is paralyzed or Midazolam (Versed) - Bolus (optional) 0.05mg/kg followed by an infusion at a rate of 0.125 mg/kg/hr.
    5. Pack patient in ice (groin, chest, axilla, side of neck); use additional measures as needed (see below) to bring patient to goal temperature. Avoid packing ice on top of chest; that may impair ventilation.
    6. Cold saline infusion can be performed via a peripheral line or femoral venous catheter to assist in achieving goal temperature. The infusion is 30 cc/kg of 4º C normal saline over 30 minutes. This is NOT to be used via a jugular or subclavian line, as the safety via this method is not yet known.
    7. Monitor vitals, with particular attention to arrhythmia detection.
    8. Once goal temperature is reached, ice bags may be removed and the cooling blankets used to maintain temperature.

      9. [*]External cooling with Arctic Sun Vest Device:

      1. Eligibility confirmed and materials gathered.
      2. Take patient's temperature and place cooling pad on patient (per manufacturer's suggestion).
      3. After applying pads, set target goal.
      4. Medicate patient for shivering with sedation and paralyzing agents as above.
      5. These pads may be used with external pacing pads. Place the external pacing pads on the chest and cover with Arctic sun pads.
      6. Refer to rewarming for strategies to rewarm.

      Supportive Therapy

      1. A MAP goal of > 90mmhg is preferred from a cerebral perfusion standpoint. (The treating clinicians are to regulate the blood pressure as they see appropriate for the individual patient.) Hypertension is potentially additive to the neuroprotection of hypothermia. The treating team should determine the MAP goal, balancing the cardiac safety with the theoretical advantage of higher cerebral perfusion pressures. Often BP remains elevated during hypothermia as a result of peripheral vasoconstriction, or hypotension may occur secondary to negative inotropic effects or dysrhythmias. Hypotension is a particular concern during the warming phasedue to vasodilation, and thus controlled slow rewarming is necessary.
      2. Monitor patient for arrhythmias (most commonly bradycardia) associated with hypothermia. If significant dysrhythmias, hemodynamic instability or bleeding develop, then active cooling should be discontinued, and the patient actively re-warmed. An Osbourne or camel wave may be present when cooling, and does not require specific therapy.
      3. Blood work requirements include electrolyte panel, glucose, CBC, and blood cultures at 12 hours and again at 24 hours. Hypothermia commonly causes hypokalemia, which may be exacerbated by insulin administration. Conversely, when patients are re-warmed, potassium exits cells, and hyperkalemia may occur. Both hypo- and Hyperkalemia should be treated when they occur. Unexplained hyperglycemia and increases in serum amylase and lipase have been observed during hypothermic therapy.
      4. All ABG measurements must be analyzed at the patient's actual body temperature. CO2 should be maintained in the normal range (35-45).
      5. Blood cultures are drawn at 12 hours after the initiation of cooling. Infection will be masked during the cooling phase.
      6. Skin care should be checked every two hours for burns caused by cold blankets. If the Arctic Sun device is utilized, check skin every 6 hours.
      7. Always use a secondary temperature monitoring device when using the Arctic Sun. Record the patient temp on the Arctic Sun, the secondary temp source and the water temperature of the Arctic Sun. The water temp will help to determine the work of the machine in trying to keep the patient at target.

      Re-warming

      The re-warming phase may be the most critical, as peripheral beds, which were once constricted, start to dilate. This shift sometimes causes hypotension. The literature recommends that the body be re-warmed at a rate no faster than 0.5°F every hour. It will take the patient about 8 - 12 hours to passively re-warm.

      At 24 hours (after the initiation of cooling):

      1. Remove cooling blankets (and ice if still in use).
      2. Maintain paralytic and sedation until temperature of 36°C (96.8°F) is reached: first discontinue the paralysis; midazolam may be discontinued once a train of 4 is achieved.
      3. Monitor patient for hypotension related to re-warming, secondary to vasodilation.
      4. Monitor patient for hyperkalemia during re-warming
      5. The goal after re-warming is normothermia (i.e. avoidance of hyperthermia)

      Controlled Re-warming:

      If the Arctic Sun cooling vest is being used, the machine can be programmed for controlled rewarming over 6-8 hours. Dial in the desired warming rate on the machine. The device should be programmed to maintain a target temp of 37°C (98.6°F) for the next 48 hours (72 hours total).

      http://www.sld.cu/galerias/pdf/sitios/anestesiologia/huppost-cardiacarresthypothermiaprotocol.pdf

      When I worked.....patients were 1:1's throughout the whole process and for 24 hours post normathermia.

When I worked in the ER we would initiate the hypothermia protocol for post-arrest patients and near drownings and they were 1:1...but we would usually wind up having two extra people help us (the CV clinician was always there, and others would jump in as needed until we could get them upstairs!).

When I moved on to the PICU I only ever saw it used for near drownings...but that might be because the percentage of patients that presented with actual cardiac arrest was so small. They were 1:1 from the cooling was intiated until they were warm.

Thanks Esme 12! If anyone can send me nursing guidelines for staffing for this protocol, it would be helpful. I am on a mission to get these patients on 1:1 at my medical center. Right now, we are required to take another ICU patient with these post arrest patients.

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thanks Esme 12! If anyone can send me nursing guidelines for staffing for this protocol, it would be helpful. I am on a mission to get these patients on 1:1 at my medical center. Right now, we are required to take another ICU patient with these post arrest patients.

They can look at the protocol and honestly believe that both patients can be care for effectively and safely? That with all involved in the care of the hypothermic patient that having another patient is OK? and that the other patient will fell they got excellent care while in ICU?

That makes me sad....:crying2:

http://www.aacn.org/WD/CETests/Media/ACC2042.pdf

http://www.nursinginmaine.org/ccu.php

http://www.sh.lsuhsc.edu/policies/policy_manuals_via_ms_word/Nursing/Critical%20Care%20Guidelines/Therapeutic%20HypothermiaEDICU%20Guideline.pdf

http://www.med.upenn.edu/resuscitation/hypothermia/documents/HUPNursingHypothermiaProtocol.pdf

At what point do you generally treat bradycardia in the therapeutic induced hypothermic paitent? And do you generally start with vasopressors? At what point do you reverse cooling related to bradycardia? Thanks! I'm strugging to find good evidence online as to what is best recommended and when........... so looking for some real world thoughts!

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I work with neonates, but we are pretty tolerant of bradycardia unless it is causing hemodynamic Issues. We will try bolusing and use dopamine to keep them stable. Our kids will have a HR in the 60's at times...totally freaks us out lol. We try to keep them as stable as possible so they can have the full 72 hours of cooling. If they were to have extremely low HR we would warm them by a degree to see if that helps, but that can cause more hemodynamic issues as their BP can tank when warmed.

What is the theory behind allowing a patient to return to a stable core temp before paralytics are discontinued? I know as long as I have used paralytics, I was always taught to wait until pt body temp is normal before ever turning off a paralytic. Most post-cardiac hypothermic protocols mention this but I don't see an explanation as to why.

Specializes in Critical Care.
What is the theory behind allowing a patient to return to a stable core temp before paralytics are discontinued? I know as long as I have used paralytics, I was always taught to wait until pt body temp is normal before ever turning off a paralytic. Most post-cardiac hypothermic protocols mention this but I don't see an explanation as to why.

I guess the question is why would you have to continue them prior to completion of re-warming. I've used a couple different protocols, and both used paralytics only in the cooling stage to override shivering, which isn't usually still present once the patient reaches goal temp.

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