Details of Targeted Temperature Management Methods for Patients Who Had Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Receiving Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Questionnaire Survey

This study aimed to precisely describe the details of targeted temperature management (TTM) following extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). A questionnaire to examine the TTM details following ECPR was distributed to 36 medical institutions that participated in the Study of Advanced life support for Ventricular fibrillation with Extracorporeal circulation in Japan (SAVE-J) II study. The survey was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire through the Internet and was distributed in January 2021 and collected in February 2021. Practical TTM methods (induction, maintenance, and rewarming duration) and monitoring and management methods, such as target levels, drugs, left ventricular decompression therapy, nutrition, and rehabilitation therapy, were recorded. We received responses from all 36 institutions. The target temperature was initiated at 34°C in 72.2% of institutions. In ∼90% of institutions, the maintenance duration was 24 hours, which was also the leading duration of rewarming 24 hours (38.9%), followed by 48 hours (30.6%). Electroencephalogram is routinely applied in only 13.9% of institutions. Prophylactic antibiotics were used in 58.6% of institutions. Enteral nutrition during TTM is consistently initiated in 27.8% of institutions and 33.3% of institutions initiated enteral nutrition for patients without catecholamine requirements. The 24-48 hours (55.6%) was the leading period of initiating early rehabilitation, followed by <24 hours. This survey described the details of the current practice for treating patients with OHCA by TTM following ECPR. Since various factors were undetermined in the TTM, randomized controlled trials will be necessary to resolve issues during TTM following ECPR.