UTSW/BioTel EMS Alert

February 26, 2016 EMS ALERT 16-001   PDF Here

End of the Field Hypothermia Protocol Under the “Post-Cardiac Arrest Care”  Treatment Guidelines

Purpose:

To notify UTSW/BioTel EMS Providers participating in a Field Hypothermia protocol for Post-Cardiac Arrest Care to cease use of this protocol.

Background:

1. Select agencies in the UTSW/BioTel EMS system have been using a Field Hypothermia protocol (a.k.a. “Therapeutic Hypothermia” or “Targeted Temperature Management” (TTM)) with chilled IV fluids for unconscious patients with ROSC after cardiac arrest.
2. The 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care recommends against the routine prehospital use of chilled IV fluids for cooling of unconscious patients with ROSC after cardiac arrest.
   1. It is unknown if other devices or methods of patient cooling are beneficial for prehospital use.
   2. TTM for selected patients is still recommended to begin at the hospital.

Critical Points, Effective Immediately:

1. Section 7 under the Post-Cardiac Arrest Care Treatment Guidelines (pp. 43-44) no longer applies to the UTSW/BioTel EMS System.
2. EMS Providers should not use chilled IV fluids to cool unconscious patients with ROSC after cardiac arrest, but should follow all other recommendations under these Guidelines.

Resources (accessed 25 February 2016):

1. UTSW/BioTel EMS Guidelines for Therapy, especially the Post-Cardiac Arrest Care Guidelines (pages 43-44).
2. 2015 AHA Guidelines Update for CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care – Part 8: Post-Cardiac Arrest Care

UTSW/BioTel EMS Providers may contact BioTel or the EMS Medical Direction Team at any time with questions or concerns about this Alert, or about any aspect of post-cardiac arrest or other patient care