Immediate management

Why?

• Patients in a coma following successful resuscitation from a VF-cardiac arrest, who are cooled to 32-34°C for 24 hours compared with maintaining a normal temperature, are more likely to have a good neurological outcome ^{a b} and less likely to die. ^a

Laryngeal masks are easier to insert than endotracheal tubes

Patient	Treatment	Comparison	Outcome	CER	RRR (95% CI)	NNT (95% CI)
in a coma following successful resuscitation from a VF-cardiac arrest a	hypothermia for 24 hours followed by passive rewarming	normothermia	good neurological recovery at 6 months	39%	40% (8% to 81%)	6 (4 to 25)
			death at 6 months	55%	26% (5% to 42%)	7 (4 to 40)