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Updated: May 27, 2026

Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms
Published on: March 3, 2021
Therapeutic hypothermia initiated in the pre-hospital setting: a meta-analysis
Deborah Cullen1, Dustin Augenstine, LesLee Kaper
1Department of Family Health, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, 46202, USA. dcullen@iupui.edu
Abstract:
After resuscitation of the cardiac arrest patient, reperfusion to the brain begins a cascade of events that may lead to permanent brain damage. Cooling suppresses the inflammatory response related to ischemia and metabolic demand, improving oxygen supply to anoxic areas. Until recently, cooling was only performed in the hospital setting. Recent studies have questioned whether initiating the cooling process immediately after resuscitation is beneficial in the pre-hospital setting. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and safety of pre-hospital hypothermia via data extraction from randomized controlled trials and statistical meta-analysis. Studies included in this analysis did show a significant statistical difference with the ability to lower the body temperature when beginning pre-hospital cooling immediately, making it feasible to start therapeutic hypothermia in the pre-hospital setting. Further research is needed to determine neurological and discharge outcomes as the studies were not powered to determine statistical significance.
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