Temperature control in adults after cardiac arrest: a survey of current clinical practice in Germany

Mortality rates after cardiac arrest (CA) are high and mainly triggered by post-CA shock and brain injury [1]. As only neuroprotective intervention temperature control with hypothermic target (TCHT) has been recommended in unconscious adults after CA for almost two decades. Since then, studies showed a slow acceptance and implementation process of temperature control (TC) over several years [2]. However, recent randomized trials failed to show improved functional outcome when compared with strict normothermia [3, 4].

Unconscious adults after CA should be treated by TC to actively prevent fever in accordance with the most recent European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) guidelines [5]. However, optimal target temperature, methods for TC as well as optimal duration of TC and if there might be sub-groups benefiting from TCHT are unknown and still under debate.

To date, current surveys regarding clinical practice of TC after in- and out-of-hospital CA following the publication of the latest ERC-ESICM guidelines are missing. Therefore, an online based cross-sectional survey among members of three emergency and critical care societies was performed.

Overall, 341 respondents completed the survey. Those were primary working as intensivists (54%, n = 183), cardiologists (18%, n = 61) or emergency physicians (16%, n = 54).

This online survey among emergency and medical critical care physicians found that the majority of physicians is using TCHT and further trust in the effectiveness of hypothermia. Only one-third changed clinical practice following the recent guideline update. Of interest, 14% reported to use a different TC strategy after IHCA compared with OHCA.

Current international guidelines recommend actively prevention of fever (≥ 37.7 °C) after CA in adults [5, 6]. Occurrence of fever in CA survivors was shown to be associated with unfavourable neurological outcome [7]. However, the definition of normothermia in humans remains uncertain. We found that only one-quarter of respondents defined fever in accordance with recent guidelines. Alternative definitions could be associated with the fact of high cost of cooling devices. When normothermia is targeted after CA the use of protocols aiming to avoid poor TC must be mandatory. Poor implementation of TC may lead to further patient harm and deleterious effects on functional outcome in CA survivors.

Therapeutic hypothermia was first recommended by ILCOR 2003[8]. Since its first introduction in guidelines a slow process of implementation into clinical practice followed [2, 9, 10]. Recent studies did not show differences regarding strict normothermia and TCHT [3, 4]. Current recommendations do not speak for or against the use TCHT (32–36 °C), it is up to bedside clinicians which strategy to use in CA survivors [5]. A change in practice after ERC-2021 and the recent ERC-ESICM guideline update was observed in 37% and 33%, respectively. To date, the optimal strategy of TC is unknown. It is unclear if only using pharmacological measures are effective enough or specific cooling devices must be applied upfront. The survey revealed that most of the respondents were using core or surface cooling devices with feedback. The optimal duration for TCHT is unknown although the period of hypothermia is most commonly 24 h and fever prevention is recommended for at least 72 h [5, 6]. Of interest, 15% of the cohort were using a longer duration of TCHT. Although otherwise recommended 9% were using no controlled rewarming which could lead to rebound hyperthermia which is associated with worse outcome [11].

TC is recommended regardless of the initial rhythm and location. However, we observed two interesting findings. Firstly, 7% of respondents reported to apply a different protocol to patients with initial shockable rhythm compared with initial non-shockable rhythm. Some were using no TC after non-shockable rhythm, the majority a different length or an individual temperature control approach. This is of importance, because the HYPERION-trial found a benefit of TCHT in patients with initial non-shockable rhythm [12]. Secondly, 14% report to use a different protocol after IHCA compared with OHCA. Of interest, the majority (56%) was using an individual (patient personalized) TC approach and 17% no TC. Among others the largest observational study of the GTWG-Resuscitation registry questioned the effectiveness of TC in IHCA [13, 14]. The HYPERION-trial found improved functional outcome after IHCA [12, 15]. One recent randomized trial did not show differences regarding mortality or functional outcome using TCHT compared to normothermia after IHCA [4]. However, there is limited evidence concerning the potential benefit of TCHT after non-shockable rhythm and IHCA. E-CPR as alternative resuscitation strategy in refractory CA is more and more commonly used [16, 17]. 83% used TCHT in E-CPR and the duration of TCHT was > 24 h in 32%. Overall, 25% of respondents apply a different protocol to E-CPR patients. This might be explained by a higher chance of brain damage in this group and potential positive effects of TCHT. In general, a more personalized approach for patients including location of arrest, initial rhythm and E-CPR maybe warranted.

This study has limitations. First, we show results of an online survey of primarily targeting emergency and medical critical care physicians and may only reflect practice in Germany. Second, the study included a medium sample size and was designed as online survey with its naturally rigid structure. Third, the possibility of responder bias could not be avoided, being inherent to questionnaires of this kind.

This study provides important insights regarding current post-CA TC practice. There is a large variation in TC practice among respondents reflecting uncertainties and knowledge gaps in post-CA care. One-third of the respondents changed clinical practice since recent guideline update. However, a majority of physicians further trusts in TCHT. Of interest, 14% used different temperature control strategies after IHCA compared with OHCA.