Temperature control in adults after cardiac arrest: a survey of current clinical practice in Germany

Practice survey on recent changes in post cardiac arrest care and temperature management in French intensive care units

BACKGROUND

Recent guidelines for post-cardiac arrest (CA) management have undergone significant changes regarding targeted therapeutic management (TTM), transitioning from hypothermia to temperature control. We aimed to assess changes in post-CA management in French intensive care units following the new recommendations.

METHODS

Two declarative web surveys were conducted from March to August 2023. We compared the doctors' survey to that previously published in 2015. We contacted 389 departments from 276 French centers.

RESULTS

Three hundred thirty-four physicians from 189 distinct ICUs departments participated in the survey. TTM was used by 95.5 % of respondents. TTM with temperature feedback device was used by 64 % of respondents. In multivariate analysis, use of TTM with temperature feedback was associated with university hospital responder [OR 1.99 (1.19-3.34, p = 0.009)], high CA admissions rate [OR 2.25 (1.13-4.78, p = 0.026)], use of a written CA procedure [OR 1.76 (1.07-2.92, p = 0.027)] and presence of a cath-lab performing coronary angiography [OR 2.42 (1.33-4.44, p = 0.004)]. The targeted temperature rose from 32 to 34 °C in 2015, to 35-36 °C in 2023 (p < 0.001). Proportions of TTM with temperature feedback devices switched from 45 % to 65 % (p < 0.001). 660 nurses responses from 150 ICUs were analyzed. According to TTM users, gel-coated water circulating pads and intravascular cooling were considered the most effective devices and were found to be easily adjustable.

CONCLUSIONS

These surveys provide insights into post-resuscitation care and TTM practice in France. One year after their publication, the latest recommendations concerning TTM have not been fully implemented, as the majority of ICUs continue to use moderate hypothermia. They widely reported employing specific TTM, with the use of TTM with temperature feedback devices increasing significantly. Heterogeneity exists regarding the TTM systems used, with a significant proportion lacking temperature feedback. This aspect requires specific attention, depending on local constraints and devices costs.

Intensive care unit cardiac arrest among very elderly critically ill patients - is cardiopulmonary resuscitation justified?

INTRODUCTION

The proportion of very elderly patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is expected to rise. Furthermore, patients are likely more prone to suffer a cardiac arrest (CA) event within the ICU. The occurrence of intensive care unit cardiac arrest (ICU-CA) is associated with high mortality. To date, the incidence of ICU-CA and its clinical impact on outcome in the very old (≥ 90 years) patients treated is unknown.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of all consecutive critically ill patients ≥ 90 years admitted to the ICU of a tertiary care university hospital in Hamburg (Germany). All patients suffering ICU-CA were included and CA characteristics and functional outcome was assessed. Clinical course and outcome were assessed and compared between the subgroups of patients with and without ICU-CA.

RESULTS

1,108 critically ill patients aged ≥ 90 years were admitted during the study period. The median age was 92.3 (91.0-94.2) years and 67% (n = 747) were female. 2% (n = 25) of this cohort suffered ICU-CA after a median duration 0.5 (0.2-3.2) days of ICU admission. The presumed cause of ICU-CA was cardiac in 64% (n = 16). The median resuscitation time was 10 (2-15) minutes and the initial rhythm was shockable in 20% (n = 5). Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) could be achieved in 68% (n = 17). The cause of ICU admission was primarily medical in the total cohort (ICU-CA: 48% vs. No ICU-CA: 34%, p = 0.13), surgical - planned (ICU-CA: 32% vs. No ICU-CA: 37%, p = 0.61) and surgical - unplanned/emergency (ICU-CA: 43% vs. No ICU-CA: 28%, p = 0.34). The median Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was 2 (1-3) points for patients with ICU-CA and 1 (0-2) for patients without ICU-CA (p = 0.54). Patients with ICU-CA had a higher disease severity according to SAPS II (ICU-CA: 54 vs. No ICU-CA: 36 points, p < 0.001). Patients with ICU-CA had a higher rate of mechanically ventilation (ICU-CA: 64% vs. No ICU-CA: 34%, p < 0.01) and required vasopressor therapy more often (ICU-CA: 88% vs. No ICU-CA: 41%, p < 0.001). The ICU and in-hospital mortality was 88% (n = 22) and 100% (n = 25) in patients with ICU-CA compared to 17% (n = 179) and 28% (n = 306) in patients without ICU-CA. The mortality rate for patients with ICU-CA was observed to be 88% (n = 22) in the ICU and 100% (n = 25) in-hospital. In contrast, patients without ICU-CA had an in-ICU mortality rate of 17% (n = 179) and an in-hospital mortality rate of 28% (n = 306) (both p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of ICU-CA in very elderly patients is rare but associated with high mortality. Providing CPR in this cohort did not lead to long-term survival at our centre. Very elderly patients admitted to the ICU likely benefit from supportive care only and should probably not be resuscitated due to poor chance of survival and ethical considerations. Providing personalized assurances that care will remain appropriate and in accordance with the patient's and family's wishes can optimise compassionate care while avoiding futile life-sustaining interventions.

Association of body temperature and mortality in critically ill patients: an observational study using two large databases

BACKGROUND

Body temperature (BT) is routinely measured and can be controlled in critical care settings. BT can impact patient outcome, but the relationship between BT and mortality has not been well-established.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the MIMIC-IV (N = 43,537) and eICU (N = 75,184) datasets. The primary outcome and exposure variables were hospital mortality and first 48-h median BT, respectively. Generalized additive models were used to model the associations between exposures and outcomes, while adjusting for patient age, sex, APS-III, SOFA, and Charlson comorbidity scores, temperature gap, as well as ventilation, vasopressor, steroids, and dialysis usage. We conducted subgroup analysis according to ICU setting, diagnoses, and demographics.

RESULTS

Optimal BT was 37 °C for the general ICU and subgroup populations. A 10% increase in the proportion of time that BT was within the 36-38 °C range was associated with reduced hospital mortality risk in both MIMIC-IV (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.90-0.93) and eICU (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.85-0.87). On the other hand, a 10% increase in the proportion of time when BT < 36 °C was associated with increased mortality risk in both MIMIC-IV (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06-1.10) and eICU (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.16-1.19). Similarly, a 10% increase in the proportion of time when BT > 38 °C was associated with increased mortality risk in both MIMIC-IV (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.07-1.12) and eICU (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.08-1.11). All patient subgroups tested consistently showed an optimal temperature within the 36-38 °C range.

CONCLUSIONS

A BT of 37 °C is associated with the lowest mortality risk among ICU patients. Further studies to explore the causal relationship between the optimal BT and mortality should be conducted and may help with establishing guidelines for active BT management in critical care settings.

[Procedure after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation-Cooling or no more cooling?]

Approximately 84 out of 100,000 inhabitants in Europe suffer from an out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) each year. The mortality after cardiac arrest (CA) is high and is particularly determined by the predominant cardiogenic shock condition and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. For almost two decades hypothermic temperature control was the only neuroprotective intervention recommended in guidelines for postresuscitation care; however, recently published studies failed to demonstrate any improvement in the neurological outcome with hypothermia in comparison to strict normothermia in postresuscitation treatment. According to the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) guidelines published in 2022, unconscious adults after CA should be treated with temperature management and avoidance of fever; however, many questions remain open regarding the optimal target temperature, the cooling methods and the optimal duration. Despite these currently unanswered questions, a structured and high-quality postresuscitation care that includes a targeted temperature management should continue to be provided for all patients in the postresuscitation phase, independent of the selected target temperature. Furthermore, fever avoidance remains an important component of postresuscitation care.

Change of target temperature from 36°C to strict fever avoidance only in comatose cardiac arrest survivors - A before and after study

AIM

The guidelines on temperature control for comatose cardiac arrest survivors were recently changed from recommending targeted temperature management (32-36°C) to fever control (≤37.7℃). We investigated the effect of implementing a strict fever control strategy on prevalence of fever, protocol adherence, and patient outcome in a Finnish tertiary academic hospital.

METHODS

Comatose cardiac arrest survivors treated with either mild device-controlled therapeutic hypothermia (≤36℃, years 2020-2021) or strict fever control (≤37℃, year 2022) for the first 36h were included in this before-after cohort study. Good neurological outcome was defined as a cerebral performance category score of 1-2.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 120 patients (≤36℃ group n=77, ≤37℃ group n=43). Cardiac arrest characteristics, severity of illness scores, and intensive care management including oxygenation, ventilation, blood pressure management and lactate remained similar between the groups. The median highest temperatures for the 36h sedation period were 36.3℃ (≤36℃ group) vs. 37.2℃ (≤37℃ group) (p<0.001). Time of the 36h sedation period spent >37.7℃ was 0.90% vs. 1.1% (p=0.496). External cooling devices were used in 90% vs. 44% of the patients (p<0.001). Good neurological outcome at 30 days was similar between the groups (47% vs. 44%, p=0.787). In multivariable model the ≤37℃ strategy was not associated with any change in outcome (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.33-2.3).

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation strict fever control strategy was feasible and did not result in increased prevalence of fever, poorer protocol adherence, or worse patient outcomes. Most patients in the fever control group did not require external cooling.