Why are we too cool for cooling; or were we always cooling too cool? An update on therapeutic temperature management

May 23, 2025 from 11:35am EST to 12:05pm EST

Hailed as one of few interventions which improve neurologic outcomes post out of hospital cardiac arrest, therapeutic hypothermia became widespread practice in the early 2000s. Over the last decade there has been a shift from therapeutic hypothermia to targeted temperature management (TTM); where the goal temperature ranged from as low as 32 to 36 degrees Celsius. Then, in 2021, TTM was dethroned in favour of normothermia; the practice of maintaining body temperature less than 37.8 degrees Celsius for a prolonged period of time post cardiac arrest. Practitioners were keen to reject hypothermic cooling as it is complex, time consuming and challenging to do well. Unfortunately, normothermia may not have been aptly, or formally, adopted in substitution. In some instances, cooling policies were abandoned before best practices were formally updated, leaving a gap in evidence-based care. This presentation aims to promote best practices by exploring the evolution of TTM with a focus on the corresponding nursing care. Using a conversational style of presentation, a description and history of cooling will be reviewed, emphasising hallmark studies that resulted in practice changes. Current guidelines will be highlighted before concluding with a discussion revolving the art of nursing in the realm of TTM. After participating in this workshop, attendees will have a better understanding as to what the current temperature management goals are post cardiac arrest, and why.  Participants will be equipped with the knowledge necessary to advocate for their post cardiac arrest patients, engage in evidence-based care, and facilitate practice updates as needed.

Speakers / Panelists

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    Laura Runcie
    BN, RN, MSN, CCN(C)