Therapeutic Hypothermia and Risk for Pneumonia and Sepsis

In this meta-analysis, patients treated with hypothermia were more likely to develop pneumonia and sepsis, despite no increased prevalence of all infections.

Therapeutic hypothermia is purported to reduce mortality and improve neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest, but at what cost? Researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 23 randomized controlled trials that involved adult patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia for any indication (e.g., cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, invasive procedures) and that reported infections. Duration of cooling ranged from several hours to several days.

Among the 2820 patients, there were 579 infections, including 296 cases of pneumonia and 50 of sepsis. While overall infection rates were similar in the hypothermia and control groups, rates of pneumonia and sepsis were higher in the hypothermia group (risk ratios, 1.44 and 1.80…

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP, FIFEM

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP, FIFEM

Disclosures

Editorial boardsKoenig & Schultz's Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practices

Therapeutic Hypothermia and Risk for Pneumonia and Sepsis

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Reviewing Author