Prehospital Hypothermia Therapy Featured In EMS Cover Story

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 08 Sep 2008 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

The use and benefits of therapeutic hypothermia in a prehospital setting are reviewed in a new magazine cover story, "Raising the Dead: Prehospital hypothermia for cardiac arrest victims may improve neurological outcome and survival to discharge." The article, available now, appears in the September 2008 edition of EMS Magazine, a publication of Cygnus Business Media.

The article authors, Mike Clumpner and Jim Mobley, were among the first in the world to implement a non-trial therapeutic hypothermia induction protocol for adult post-cardiac-arrest patients. Clumpner and Mobley are leading a discussion track on emergency-medical and critical-care use of the therapy at an international educational forum -- the Therapeutic Temperature Management (TTM) Congress -- in October 2008 in Barcelona, Spain.

The majority of cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital. While many emergency medical technicians are able to resuscitate patients, many patients never survive to be discharged from the hospital. Of those patients surviving to discharge, the majority incur neurological impairment. Proper application of mild therapeutic hypothermia is shown to improve neurological outcomes post sudden cardiac arrest.

While much clinical research has been gathered regarding in-hospital application of the therapy post cardiac arrest, the article authors offer a substantial view on prehospital application. In an effort to improve survivability rates as well as discharged patient quality of life, the authors share their experiences in protocol development and in-field application of therapeutic hypothermia post sudden cardiac arrest.

Mike Clumpner, co-author of the article, said, "Jim (Mobley) and I are fortunate to have continuing opportunities to interact with the emergency medicine community regarding therapeutic hypothermia. The neurological benefits post sudden cardiac arrest are so clear that we are hoping to help improve the rate of adoption in prehospital settings." Mobley continued, "The EMS article and our ongoing participation in forums like the TTM Congress ensure we are able to reach as broad an audience as possible."

Regarding the story, Nancy Perry, associate publisher and editor of EMS Magazine, said "We first took note of prehospital therapeutic hypothermia in a March 2007 magazine article. With much progress occurring in the EMS arena, we feel we are in the forefront of keeping visibility on this important medical therapy."

The 2008 TTM Congress, occurring October 1-4, 2008 in Barcelona, Spain, will review research in and protocols for patient temperature modulation treatments post sudden cardiac arrest, traumatic brain, head, and spine injury, stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage, neonatal asphyxia, and other life-threatening states. Leading researchers, physicians, critical-care nurses, and other emergency medicine professionals will instruct and attend. Continuing medical education credit is available to physicians and nurses via sponsorship by the University of Massachusetts Medical School and MEDAVERA®. For a full list of congress faculty, a sponsor and exhibitor prospectus, an agenda, and to register to attend the event, please visit http://www.ttmcongress2008.com.

About MEDAVERA

Medavera, Inc. is a medical education company headquartered in Springfield, MO. The company mission is to improve patient health by identifying educational need and transferring medical knowledge with superior communication strategies and tools. For more information, please visit http://www.medavera.com.

About EMS Magazine and Cygnus Business Media

EMS Magazine has been published continuously since 1972. Informative and balanced editorial content make EMS Magazine the most authoritative source in the world for clinical and educational material designed to improve the delivery of prehospital emergency medical care. It is written, edited, illustrated and formatted to appeal to the full spectrum of EMS professionals: paramedics, EMTs, administrators and instructors working in private and public services. Visit http://www.EMSResponder.com.

EMS Magazine is published by Cygnus Business Media, an internationally-recognized business-to-business media company with a diverse portfolio of products reaching more than 5 million professionals annually. Cygnus Publishing, which includes print, interactive and custom marketing services, and Cygnus Expositions provide comprehensive, integrated advertising and marketing programs for Cygnus' valued customers and clients. The company's products help you enhance brand identity, generate sales leads, build product awareness, generate sales and strengthen customer/client relationships. For more information, visit http://www.cygnusb2b.com.

About the Therapeutic Temperature Management Congress

The Therapeutic Temperature Management (TTM) Congress is an annual international gathering of experts addressing current trends in therapeutic hypothermia and other patient temperature management applications. Leading clinical researchers, physicians, critical-care nurses, and other emergency medicine professionals convene to exchange information and experience in an effort to advance successful protocols in these life-saving treatments. Additional information on the congress is available at http://www.ttmcongress.net.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed herein are forward-looking, reflect numerous assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any changes in events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.

Therapeutic Temperature Management