The effect of hyperthermia on neurologic outcome during the post-resuscitation period

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study is to clarify the clinical characteristics of hyperthermia and to evaluate the correlation between hyperthermia and neurologic outcome after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: This retrospective study was performed from Aug. 1995 to Dec. 2001 at the Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. We reviewed the medical records of 41 adult patients who survived for longer than 72 h after successful CPR. The patients were divided into two groups favorable neurologic outcome group (n=17) and unfavorable neurologic outcome group (n=24). The hyperthermic group was composed of patients whose highest body temperature had been more than 38 degrees C. In the hyperthermic group, we analyzed the correlation between evidence of infection and neurologic outcome. We considered evidence of infection to be a positive result for a blood, sputum, or urine culture, and pneumonic infiltration on chest X-ray. RESULTS: The average of the highest body temperature within 72 h after successful CPR was 38.4+/-0.9 degrees C for the unfavorable neurologic outcome group, which was significantly higher than the value of 37.7+/-0.5 degrees C for the favorable neurologic outcome group (p =0.002). No significant correlation existed between neurologic outcome and age, place of cardiac arrest, duration of arrest, causes of cardiac arrest, and initial blood pressure after uccessful resuscitation. In hyperthermic group (n=18), eight patients showed the evidence of i nfection, but no significant correlation existed between the evidence of infection and neurologic outcome (p =0.850). CONCLUSION: Hyperthermia is a potential factor for an unfavorable neurologic recovery after successful CPR.