Post-cardiac arrest physiology and management in the neonatal intensive care unit

Cooling Under a Blanketrol System Versus Cooling With an Arctic Sun Thermoregulation System (CATS) for Neonates Undergoing Therapeutic Hypothermia

Background Despite evidence suggesting improved outcomes in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH), data on the impact of temperature variability during cooling and its association with clinical outcomes remain limited. Objective To compare the efficacy and ease of use of two different cooling systems, the Arctic Sun (Medivance, Inc., Louisville, CO) vs. the Blanketrol III (Gentherm Medical, Cincinnati, OH) on achieving TH, temperature variability, and clinical outcomes in neonates with HIE undergoing TH. Methods This study was conducted at the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center's Level IV NICU. The study employed a retrospective cohort design, comparing infants treated with the Arctic Sun device (from December 2020 to August 2021) to a historical cohort treated with the Blanketrol system (from January 2017 to November 2020). Both groups were evaluated for clinical characteristics, patients' outcomes, and ease of use of the cooling devices. Ease of use was assessed through a self-developed survey administered to NICU nurses. Core body temperatures throughout the cooling course were documented at four-hour intervals, including induction, maintenance, and rewarming phases. Results Twenty-two infants were cooled using the Arctic Sun system, and 44 infants were cooled with the Blanketrol device. Median birth weight and gestational age were comparable. There were no significant differences in one-minute and five-minute appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, and respiration (APGAR) scores. The Arctic Sun group had a significantly higher rate of maternal morbidities, including diabetes and placental abruption. Although the median temperature achieved with both devices was 33.5°C, temperature variability was significantly greater with the Blanketrol device (p = 0.03). Thrombocytopenia rates were statistically different between the groups (9% in Arctic Sun vs. 38% in Blanketrol, p = 0.001). Although the Blanketrol group had higher rates of disseminated intravascular coagulation (48% vs. 37%), hypercalcemia (23% vs. 5%), and subcutaneous fat necrosis (7% vs. 5%), these differences were not statistically significant. A nurses' survey on ease of use revealed a strong preference for the Arctic Sun cooling system. Over 85% of nurses found it easier to learn and set up and required less manual intervention than the Blanketrol device. Conclusions Gel adhesive pad-based TH is a potentially superior modality to traditional water-circulating cooling devices. These pads offer advantages in user-friendliness, improved temperature control precision, and potentially reduced adverse event profiles.

Early coagulopathy after pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial

Background

To estimate the incidence, risk factors, and impact on mortality and functional outcomes for early coagulopathy after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients.

Methods

A post hoc analysis of the Therapeutic Hypothermia after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Out-of-Hospital (THAPCA-OH) trial was conducted. Early coagulopathy was defined as presence of at least one of the following coagulation abnormalities upon admission: international standard ratio (INR), platelets, and age-adjusted activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) within 6 h after OHCA and before therapeutic hypothermia initiation. The outcomes included 28-day mortality and functional prognosis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore risk factors and association between early coagulopathy and outcomes.

Results

Of the 227 patients included, 152 (67%) were male and the median age was 2.3 years [interquartile range (IQR), 0.7–8.6 years]. The overall 28-day mortality was 63%. The incidence of early coagulopathy was 46%. Lower age, longer duration of chest compression, lower temperature, and higher white blood cell (WBC) upon admission increased the risk of early coagulopathy. Early coagulopathy [OR, 2.20 (95% CI, 1.12–4.39), P = 0.023] was independently associated with 28-day mortality after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions

Early coagulopathy occurred in almost half of pediatric patients with OHCA. Lower age, longer duration of chest compression, lower temperature, and higher WBC increased the risk. The development of early coagulopathy was independently associated with increased mortality.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12959-022-00422-x.