The eyes may open in people with UWS, and voluntary movements may occur, but the person does not respond and is unaware of their surroundings. Unfortunately, those with UWS due to lack of oxygen more often don't. Restoring the flow of blood through the body is called reperfusion. It is key to reviving the person and preventing or limiting brain damage. But when this occurs, the sudden rush of blood to areas of damaged tissues can cause injury. It may seem counterintuitive because restarting the flow of blood is the critical goal.
But the lack of oxygen and nutrients during the time of cardiac arrest means that when blood flow is restored, it places oxidative stress on the brain as toxins flood already-damaged tissues. The inflammation and nerve injury this causes can trigger a cascade of symptoms, including:.
The severity of these symptoms is closely linked to how long the person went without oxygen. Other factors include any pre-existing conditions affecting the brain and cardiovascular system. When the heart stops, so does the flow of blood that's pumped throughout the body. Brain damage will begin in a matter of minutes because of the lack of oxygen carried by the blood cells.
Cardiac arrest is usually fatal outside of a hospital setting, but even those who are revived may have severe and lasting impacts. It's important to act quickly to restart the heart and limit these catastrophic effects. All brain activity is thought to cease by around three to four minutes from the moment the heart stops. Thus, every second counts if someone suddenly collapses in front of you and stops breathing.
Rather than wasting time putting the victim in the car and rushing to the hospital, call and start hands-only CPR immediately. You may buy enough time until the paramedics arrive to restart the heart. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Heart disease and stroke statistics update: a report from the American Heart Association. Association of neighborhood characteristics with incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and rates of bystander-initiated CPR: implications for community-based education intervention.
Wellbourn C, Efstathiou N. How does the length of cardiopulmonary resuscitation affect brain damage in patients surviving cardiac arrest?
A systematic review. This can cause bleeding. Electrolyte and metabolic problems Raised blood sugar levels These risks may vary based on your age and other health problems. Ask your healthcare provider about the risks specific to you. How do I get ready for therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest?
What happens during therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest? Different medical centers may use different methods to do therapeutic hypothermia. In general: The medical team may start the hypothermia within 4 to 6 hours after the cardiac arrest.
A healthcare provider will give you medicine to help you relax sedative. It makes you sleep and keeps you from shivering. You will not remember anything about the procedure afterward. You may also get another medicine to keep you from moving. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital signs will be closely watched. Healthcare providers use special thermometers to check your internal temperature. The provider may use cooling blankets, ice packs, or cooling pads to bring the body temperature down.
The goal is to cool as quickly as possible. Another cooling choice is internal cooling. The therapeutic hypothermia will likely last around 24 hours. The medical team will slowly rewarm you over several hours. They may set cooling blankets at gradually higher temperatures. In some cases, they may use rewarming devices as well. Peter Forgacs , now a clinical assistant professor of neurology courtesy , observed a similar case in which a patient in a coma following cardiac arrest did not have care withdrawn as counseled, in part because his family lived in a foreign country—yet this patient also emerged from coma at 30 days and later made a significant recovery.
The patient had had an EEG burst-suppression pattern like that of the earlier recovered patient, and when Dr. Schiff learned of a third post-cardiac-arrest coma patient with a similar EEG pattern, he counseled that life support should be maintained.
That patient emerged from coma after 17 days and also made a significant recovery. Prompted by these cases, Dr. Forgacs did a separate study of 53 post-cardiac-arrest coma patients, of whom 17 showed a burst suppression pattern on their EEGs.
In this view, the presence of theta-rhythms indicates the survival of key brain networks needed for awareness and responsiveness. Forgacs said. It's helpful only for people whose heartbeat returns after a sudden cardiac arrest.
Therapeutic hypothermia can be a good choice if the heart restarted but you're still not responsive. It can raise the chance that you'll wake up. The chemical reactions and the metabolism of the tissues of the body slow down.
The lowered temperature may also lessen inflammation in the brain. Both of these factors may help reduce injury. Therapeutic hypothermia is very helpful for some people. But it has some rare risks. Some of these risks include:.
These risks may vary based on your age and other health problems. Ask your healthcare provider about the risks specific to you. This procedure is used only for people who are unconscious after cardiac arrest. It can be helpful for family members to learn about the procedure.
While your body temperature is lower, you may look, act, and feel lifeless. You may also have tubes and monitoring devices attached to you. This can be scary. Your family should know that the healthcare providers are working hard to give you the best possible chance of recovery.
Different medical centers may use different methods to do therapeutic hypothermia. In general:. The medical team may start the hypothermia within 4 to 6 hours after the cardiac arrest. A healthcare provider will give you medicine to help you relax sedative.
0コメント