Holy Name Press Releases

Patients treated at Holy Name Medical Center Emergency Department Make Full Recovery after Hypothermic Therapy

May 7, 2012

Two patients who were recently brought to Holy Name Medical Center Emergency Department in full cardiac arrest made a complete recovery after undergoing hypothermic treatment.  Randy Tartacoff, MD, emergency physician and co-director of Holy Name's Emergency Department said, "By using the hypothermic therapy treatment on patients we are greatly improving the outcomes for patients that suffer any type of 'arrest.'  Both of these patients left the Medical Center with a full recovery—they suffered no neurological dysfunction."

Hypothermic therapy involves placing the patient in an inflatable tub-type vessel, into which cold water and cubed ice are introduced.  An esophageal probe monitors the patient's core temperature, which is lowered to 93°F for 30 minutes.

After the target temperature is reached, the healthcare team has a six-hour window during which patients can undergo diagnostic testing such as, cardiac catheterization and CT scans.  The patient is then transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).  For between 16 and 24 hours the patient will remain hypothermic via a cooling blanket.  Thereafter, the patient is slowly warmed over the course of 24 hours.