Preservation of neurological function following therapeutic hypothermia in a patient of in-hospital cardiac arrest with non-ventricular fibrillation

SummaryA 76-year-old woman with a diagnosis of dilated-phase hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was admitted to our hospital for exacerbation of congestive heart failure. After admission, she developed cardiac arrest and the electrocardiogram showed pulseless electrical activity. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started immediately; however, return of spontaneous circulation was achieved 56 min after cardiopulmonary arrest. Therapeutic hypothermia was considered as an adjunct therapy, together with intensive treatment. The target temperature of 33.0 °C was achieved 10 h after cardiopulmonary arrest. Core temperature was maintained between 33.0 and 35.0 °C for 72 h with no cardiac arrhythmia detected during this period. Re-warming was initiated at a rate of 1 °C/day. On day 6, the core temperature returned to 37 °C and recovery of consciousness was achieved on day 9. No impairment of neurological function was noted. She had no heart failure-related symptoms and B-type natriuretic peptide level decreased from 4174 pg/mL on admission to 450 pg/mL at discharge. Therapeutic hypothermia may be a promising post-resuscitation therapy for comatose survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest with non-ventricular fibrillation leading to improvement in neurological outcome.