Brain cooling is safe - NICE rules
A brain cooling technique could offer hope to people who suffer a cardiac arrest, according to new clinical guidelines.
The latest recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence state that therapeutic hypothermia is safe and effective.
During the treatment, which is also used for some stroke patients, the unconscious person''s body temperature is reduced from 37C to between 32C and 34C soon after the cardiac arrest and for 12 to 24 hours afterwards.
The process of cooling the brain slows down the rate at which brain cells die once they have been starved of oxygen.
This has the potential to save lives and reduce brain damage, giving surgeons precious extra hours to help patients.
The treatment is carried out using a blanket or mattress filled with air or fluid, or a special cap.
Alongside the cooling, patients are given muscle relaxants to prevent shivering.
Once the treatment has finished, the person is warmed up gradually until their temperature returns to normal.
Some NHS units are already using the technique for people who have been resuscitated following cardiac arrest, such as after a heart attack, but other units have previously been unsure of its benefits.
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