Sunday, January 18, 2009

Arctic Sun Cooling System increasing cardiac arrest survival rates

Arctic Sun Cooling SystemYour chances of surviving a cardiac arrest is only about 10% but doctors are trying to increase those odds by using a new cooling device that may help more patients survive. The Arctic Sun Cooling System is used on cardiac arrest patients who never regain consciousness and it's increasing survival rates to nearly 30% at one West Michigan hospital. Time means everything for cardiac arrest patients, "For many patients their heart recovers but their brain doesn't." Dr. Paul Lange is a critical care specialist for Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, he says once the heart stops pumping blood to the brain, within five minutes your brain cells begin to die and you could sustain irreversible brain damage. That's why doctors and their trained team at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo are trying new technology called the Arctic Sun Cooling Device," Research has shown that by cooling people after cardiac arrest they have a better chance for survival. We believe we are protecting the brain from ongoing injury after the patient is recovered from their cardiac arrest." - WZZM

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