Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia During Severe Sepsis

Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia During Severe Sepsis

Objectives: to evaluate the feasibility, the safety and the effects on physiological parameters of mild therapeutic hypothermia during septic shock.

Design: a randomized, controlled, pilot physiological study. Setting: a 15-beds university-affiliated intensive care unit of a teaching Hospital.

Patients: twenty ventilated and sedated adults patients with septic shock Intervention: Mild therapeutic hypothermia between 32 and 34°C during 36 consecutive hours using an external water cooling blanket.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age > 18-yrs,
• sedation and mechanical ventilation for at least 48-hrs,
• the diagnosis of septic shock according to standard guidelines.

Exclusion Criteria:

• bradycardia < 50 bpm, or any severe ventricular rhythm disturbances,
• pregnancy,
• need for emergent surgery or any other complementary exam involving patient transport within the sixth hours following inclusion,
• decision to withdraw or withhold life support,
• predictable death within six hours.