Mild Hypothermia Delays Heart Damage from Ventricular Fibrillation
Author Information
Author(s): Sorrell Vincent L, Paleru Vijayasree, Altbach Maria I, Hilwig Ronald W, Kern Karl B, Gaballa Mohamed, Ewy Gordon A, Berg Robert A
Primary Institution: University of Arizona College of Medicine
Hypothesis
Mild hypothermia might slow the progression to stone heart.
Conclusion
Mild hypothermia reduced early left ventricular dilation and delayed the onset of stone heart in a swine model of untreated ventricular fibrillation.
Supporting Evidence
- Mild hypothermia was induced with ice packs before ventricular fibrillation.
- The development of stone heart was delayed to 52 ± 4 minutes in the hypothermia group.
- In the normothermia group, stone heart occurred at 29 ± 3 minutes.
Takeaway
Cooling the heart a little bit can help it stay healthy longer during a heart problem called ventricular fibrillation.
Methodology
Fourteen swine were randomized to normothermia or hypothermia, and their heart volumes were measured using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.
Limitations
Results may not directly apply to humans; temperature measurement may not reflect core temperature accurately.
Participant Demographics
Fourteen female swine, average weight 27 ± 1 kg.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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