Abstract 159: Immediate Transnasal Evaporative Cooling During Resuscitation from Cardiac Arrest: The Cool Before Airway Study

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic hypothermia is an integral part of the standard resuscitation care. One method to induce therapeutic hypothermia is transnasal evaporative cooling. PURPOSE/AIMS: We wanted to demonstrate that transnasal evaporative cooling initiated prior to achieving a protected airway during CPR in an out-of-hospital setting is safe and feasible. METHODS: Transnasal evaporative cooling via the RhinoChill® (RC) System (BeneChill Inc. San Diego, CA, USA) was initiated prior to a protected airway after initiating cardiac resuscitation, and was continued until either the subject was declared dead, standard institutional systemic cooling methods were implemented or cooling equipment (oxygen and perfluorcarbone) was empty. The subject was monitored throughout the hypothermia period, and followed until either death or hospital discharge. Clinical assessments and clinically relevant adverse events were documented over this period of time. RESULTS: In total 21 patients were included in this trial. Four of...