Targeted Therapeutic Mild Hypercapnia After Resuscitated Cardiac Arrest

Summary

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Cardiac arrest is a common and catastrophic event with substantial human and financial costs. It is well understood that cardiac arrest leads to brain injury. However, what is not widely appreciated is that, after circulation has been restored, cerebral hypoperfusion continues. Ongoing cerebral vaso...

Cardiac arrest is a common and catastrophic event with substantial human and financial costs. It is well understood that cardiac arrest leads to brain injury. However, what is not widely appreciated is that, after circulation has been restored, cerebral hypoperfusion continues. Ongoing cerebral vasoconstriction and cerebral hypoxia has been demonstrated using technologies that include positron emission tomography, ultrasound, jugular bulb oxygen saturation and cerebral oximetry. A likely mechanism responsible for sustained early cerebral hypoperfusion relates to impaired cerebrovascular auto-regulation. Such impaired cerebral auto-regulation may make even a normal arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) (the major physiological regulator of cerebral blood flow) insufficient to achieve and maintain adequate cerebral perfusion and, consequently, cerebral oxygenation. However, PaCO2 is the major determinant of cerebral blood flow and an increased PaCO2 (hypercapnia) markedly increases cerebral blood flow. Moreover, arterial carbon dioxide is modifiable and, as such, is a potential therapeutic target. The TAME Cardiac Arrest Trial is a definitive phase III multi-centre randomised controlled trial in resuscitated cardiac arrest patients. This trial will determine whether targeted therapeutic mild hypercapnia (TTMH) applied during the first 24 hours of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) improves neurological outcome at 6 months compared to standard care (targeted normocapnia (TN). Supported by compelling preliminary data, significant improvements in patient outcomes are achievable with this proposed simple and cost free therapy. Recruiting 1,700 patients, for multiple sites in many countries, this will be the largest trial ever conducted involving resuscitated cardiac arrest patients admitted to the ICU. If the TAME Cardiac Arrest Trial confirms that TTMH is effective, its findings will improve the lives of many, transform clinical practice and yield major economic gains worldwide.

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