Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest: unintentional overcooling is common using ice packs and conventional cooling blankets

From PubMed:

OBJECTIVES: Although therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest survivors has been shown to improve neurologically intact survival, optimal methods to ensure controlled induction and maintenance of cooling are not clearly established. Precise temperature control is important to evaluate because unintentional overcooling below the consensus target range of 32-34 degrees C may place the patient at risk for serious complications. We sought to measure the prevalence of overcooling (<32 degrees C) in postarrest survivors receiving primarily noninvasive cooling. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of postarrest patients. SETTING: Three large teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: Cardiac arrest survivors receiving therapeutic hypothermia. INTERVENTIONS: Charts were reviewed if primarily surface cooling was used with a target temperature goal between 32 degrees C and 34 degrees C. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of the 32 cases reviewed, overcooling lasting for >1 hr was identified as follows: 20 of 32 patients (63%) reached temperatures of <32 degrees C, 9 of 32 (28%) reached temperatures of <31 degrees C, and 4 of 32 (13%) reached temperatures of <30 degrees C. Of those with overcooling of <32 degrees C, 6 of 20 (30%) survived to hospital discharge, whereas of those without overcooling, 7 of 12 (58%) survived to hospital discharge (p = not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of the cases reviewed demonstrated unintentional overcooling below target temperature. Improved mechanisms for temperature control are required to prevent potentially deleterious complications of more profound hypothermia.

Hospital expresses concern about influx of H1N1 Cases

From The Kansan:

NEWTON —Newton Medical Center medical staff physicians expressed concern today about the increased potential for the current flu virus to be spread among the large number of people now coming to the hospital’s Emergency Department for treatment of flu-like symptoms.

“The current H1N1 swine flu virus is a mild illness by and large, and usually not more severe than the typical seasonal flu virus,” said Ted Cook, M.D., medical director of the emergency medicine department at NMC and president of the NMC medical staff. “The best action to take with mild flu-like symptoms is to stay at home, drink plenty of fluids, and take medication to reduce fever and body ache.”

Iowa Medical Helicopter Hit by Fire Truck

From JEMS:

MEDIAPOLIS, Iowa – A medical helicopter responding to an accident in southeast Iowa has been grounded after it was hit by a fire truck.

The Iowa State Patrol says the MedForce helicopter took off from West Burlington and landed north of Mediapolis on Monday to pick up a crash victim when it was struck by a Mediapolis Fire Department truck.

The patrol says the pilot and crew were outside the chopper, which was shut off. Fire crews who responded to the accident received a second call about another accident south of Mediapolis.

When the fire truck was leaving, it hit the helicopter’s rotor with one of its upper deck lights.

Another MedForce helicopter responded and flew the crash victim to a hospital.

Car Crashes into Connecticut Hospital

From JEMS:

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — Police say a car carrying two men and a dog crashed through the front doors of a Connecticut hospital and ended up in the lobby.

Authorities say no one was in the lobby and no one injured when the car slammed into the Hospital of Central Connecticut in Southington just before 3 a.m. Friday.

The two men and dog fled the scene. Police say one man was captured about a quarter-mile away after punching an officer. The officer, who was also bitten by the dog, was treated for minor injuries.

Police say they caught the second man later Friday. Authorities are still looking for the dog.

Hospital Bans Visitors Under Sixteen

From Cookeville (TN) Times:

Amid growing concern over the H1N1 flu virus in middle Tennessee, Cookeville Regional Medical Center announced today it would ban children under the age of sixteen from visiting family or friends who may be hospitalized.

In an attempt to ovoid undue alarm, Cookeville Regional issued a press release Friday, reminding the public that the hospital has enacted similar policies during previous flu season.

At the same time, the hospital acknowledges it has never taken action this early in the flu season, and the news of confirmed H1N1 in the state is the reason behind this action.

The H1N1 strain of flu is being seen predominantly in young children and young adults.

The hope is that restricting visitation will provide an extra measure of safety for children & patients in our community.