The RICH Study - The Rapid Infusion of Cold Hartmann's for Hypothermia following Cardiac Arrest
Out of hospital cardiac arrest is common and associated with a poor prognosis with only 8% of patients surviving to a good outcome at hospital discharge. Patients who are initially resuscitated by the ambulance service usually remain unconscious because of severe anoxic brain injury. One potential therapy for this anoxic brain injury is mild hypothermia and in human trials this has been shown to improve patient outcomes when initiated in the hospital setting. An effective method of cooling is the rapid intravenous infusion of a large volume of ice cold fluid. It is a simple fuss free procedure and is a relatively fast way to reduce body temperature.
Since there is evidence of improved outcome if cooling is initated during or immediately after resuscitation, we propose that cooling patients in the ambulance will be more beneficial than waiting for arrival at hospital. A preliminary study will be conducted to assess the feasibility of the MICA paramedics using this intravenous cooling treatment for patients who have been resuscitated from cardiac arrest. If this proves successful, a larger randomised controlled trial will be conducted comparing pre-hospital cooling with hospital cooling.
The RICH Study is supported by the National Heart Foundation and The National Health and Medical Research Council.
Principle Investigator
Dr Stephen Bernard (Alfred Hospital)
Associate Investigators / Steering Committee
A/Prof Jamie Cooper (Alfred Hospital)
A/Prof David Taylor (Royal Melbourne Hospital)
Dr Pam Rosengarten (Monash Medial Centre)
Dr Bill Silvester (The Austin Hospital)
Dr David Ernest (Box Hill Hospital)
Prof Peter Cameron (Monash University)
Prof Anne-Maree Kelly (Western Hospital)
Mr Kevin Masci (Metropolitan Ambulance Service)
Dr Karen Smith (Metropolitan Ambulance Service)
Prof John McNeil (Monash University)
Dr John Botha (Frankston Hospital)
Dr Greg Mele (Maroondah Hospital)
Ms Emily Mulholland (Monash University)
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