Hypothermia After In-hospital Cardiac Arrest

This is a randomized controlled multicenter trial. Patients after in-hospital cardiac arrest are randomized either to standard therapy or to standard therapy in addition to mild therapeutic hypothermia. Mild therapeutic hypothermia is performed for 24 hours with a target temperature of 32-34°C. Inclusion criteria are: Adult patients which have been resuscitated after cardiac arrest in-hospital and who remain unconscious after restoration of spontanous circulation. Exclusion criteria are: severe cardiogenic shock, severe rhythm disorders, major surgery within the last 10 days, planned surgery within the next 24 hours afer resuscitation, active bleeding, suspicion od intracranial bleeding, severe infection, such as pneumonia or sepsis, a severe neurological deficit before cardiac arrest, an aquired immun deficency, pregnacy. The primary endpoint is mortality for all causes after six months. Secondary endpoints are neurological outcome after six months measured by the Glasgow-Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance scale, and in-hospital-mortality.