Prehospital COOLing 1 (PreCOOL 1)

A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Cold Infusions for Prehospital Induction of Cooling in Awake Stroke Patients (PreCOOL 1)

Elevated body temperature was shown to be associated with worse outcome in acute stroke patients. PreCOOL 1 aims to investigate efficacy, feasibility and safety of prehospital cooling with cold infusions in stroke patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Suspected stroke
• Symptom onset ≤ 7 days
• Tympanic temperature ≥ 36.7°C
• Informed consent by the patient
• Age ≥ 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe cardiac insufficiency (NYHA ≥ III)
• New anisocoria, severe nausea, vomiting or headache
• High-grade heart valve stenosis or insufficiency
• Acute pulmonary embolism
• Acute myocardial infarction
• Threatening ventricular dysrhythmia
• Known hematologic disease with increased risk of thrombosis (e.g. cryoglobulinemia, cold agglutinins, sickle cell anemia)
• Known vasospastic vascular disorder (e.g. Raynaud's phenomenon or thromboangiitis obliterans)
• Severe renal insufficiency with reduced diuresis
• Pregnancy