Hypothermia and Hemostasis After Cardiac Arrest

The Effect of Therapeutic Hypothermia After Cardiac Arrest on the Haemostasis.

This is a sub-study to the Time-differentiated Therapeutic Hypothermia (TTH48, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01689077). TTH48 compares 24 with 48 hours of therapeutic hypothermia at a target temperature of 32-34°C in survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The overall aim of this sub-study is to examine the hemostasis in patients resuscitated after cardiac arrest and treated with 24 and 48 hours of therapeutic hypothermia

Our specific aims are:

• To investigate the whole blood coagulation using the rotational thromboelastometry.
• To investigate the function of platelets

Inclusion Criteria:

• Out of hospital cardiac arrest of presumed cardiac cause
• Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)
• Glasgow Coma Score < 8
• Age > 18 years and < 80 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• > 60 minutes from the circulatory collapse to ROSC
• Time interval > 4 hours from cardiac arrest to initiation of therapeutic hypothermia
• Terminal illness
• Coagulation disorder
• Unwitnessed asystolia
• Cerebral performance category 3-4 before the cardiac arrest
• Severe persistent cardiogenic shock
• Pregnancy
• Persistent cardiogenic shock (systolic blood pressure < 80 despite inotropic treatment)
• New apoplexy or intracerebral hemorrhage
• Lack of consent from the relatives
• Lack of consent from the GP
• Lack of consent from the patient if he/she wakes up and is relevant