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Summary of the Bernard 2002 Trial
Therapeutic hypothermia in patients with out-of-hospital VF arrest improved the incidence of favorable discharge disposition and a trend towards improved mortality.
Key Points from Bernard 2002
- Included 77 patients with out-of-hospital VF arrest, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and persistent coma post-ROSC
- Randomized patients to therapeutic hypothermia (33°C) or normothermia x 12 hrs. Both patient groups received midazolam and vecuronium
- At baseline, the normothermia group was more likely to receive bystander CPR (49% vs. 71%, p=0.05)
- Primary endpoint (favorable discharge disposition to home or acute rehabilitation) was more likely with hypothermia (49% vs. 26%, p=0.046, NNT 4)
- Hypothermia was associated with a non-significant trend towards improved 30-day mortality (51% vs. 68%, p=0.145, NNT 6)
- An adequate analysis of safety (bleeding events, electrolyte disturbances) was not reported within the study
Citation
Bernard SA, Gray TW, Buist MD, et al. Treatment of comatose survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with induced hypothermia. N Engl J Med. 2002 Feb 21;346(8):557-63. PMID 11856794
