Arctic Sun technology helps save lives

Physicians at Baptist East are first in Kentucky to use a sophisticated cooling system to save lives of post-cardiac arrest patients.

Therapeutic hypothermia, a process in which the patient’s body temperature is cooled for 24 hours and then slowly re-warmed to prevent irreversible neurological damage, is available to patients at Baptist Hospital East.

During cardiac arrest there is diminished blood flow to the brain. With the implementation of the rapid cooling protocol, it is possible to preserve brain tissue and promote cognitive recovery. Physicians at Baptist East were the first in Kentucky to utilize a sophisticated device called the Arctic Sun® to successfully administer therapeutic hypothermia to save the lives of post cardiac arrest patients.

Unlike traditional cooling methods, such as ice or water blankets, the Arctic Sun incorporates advanced, noninvasive technology to adjust body temperature to exacting specifications.

According to the American Heart Association, only two percent of those who experience cardiac arrest survive.