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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

UMC First in Las Vegas For Comprehensive Hypothermia and Post Resuscitation Care

Cardiac arrest could mean the end of someone’s life if they don’t receive immediate medical care. Restarting the heart and getting blood circulating again after a cardiac arrest is imperative for a good outcome, not only for the heart but for the brain too. Brain function could be severely diminished if blood circulation is not resumed properly.

UMC is now providing breakthrough technology for patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest. It’s called induced hypothermia. UMC is the only hospital in Las Vegas where all departments, including the Emergency Room and Level I Trauma Center provide this sort of treatment to patients 24 hours a day.

“Induced hypothermia is a controlled cooling of the body. It can be started using a chilled saline that is intravenously given to the patient,” said UMC Adult Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. JD McCourt. “It’s almost like putting ice on an injured part of your body, only this is the cooling down of the brain to reduce swelling and keep cells from dying after a cardiac arrest.”

While UMC Emergency Physicians work to resuscitate a patient’s heart, they are also cognizant of protecting the brain as well.

“Excellent neurological outcomes are equally as important as cardiac outcomes so our patients have the best opportunity to live a full life after a heart attack,” said UMC Director of Emergency Services Jackie Levy.

During induced hypothermia, a patient’s body temperature is cooled to 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit and remains there for 24 hours. The patient is then slowly warmed while remaining sedated and comfortable.

“This cutting-edge treatment is another example of the top-quality medical care at UMC,” Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly said. “This is one more reason why UMC is the best place to go for the most severe emergencies.”

Contact Information:
Danita Cohen
(702) 383-3987
Danita.Cohen@umcsn.com
University Medical Center
1800 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102