Posted on 01/09/2008

January 9, 2008–HERSHEY–Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center recently began offering “therapeutic hypothermia” for victims of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The state-of-the-art treatment still isn’t available at most hospitals.

Conducting a demonstration of the process today, doctors said therapeutic hypothermia is beneficial for post-resuscitation SCA patients who remain unconscious. Chilling the body to about 91 degrees can prevent brain damage that occurs when the heart stops suddenly and blood no longer flows to the brain.

One or two patients per month have been getting the treatment at the medical center. It involves a special machine that pumps ice water into wraps that chill the upper body, legs and groin.

For more information: http://www.sca-aware.org/sca-treatment.php#treatment3.

Source: Patriot News

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