Pre Versus Post Implementation of a Pharmacologic Antishivering Protocol During Targeted Temperature Management Following Cardiac Arrest

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is endorsed by various guidelines to improve neurologic outcomes following cardiac arrest. Shivering, a consequence of hypothermia, can counteract the benefits of TTM. Despite its frequent occurrence, consensus guidelines provide minimal guidance on the management of shivering. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a pharmacologic antishivering protocol in patients undergoing TTM following cardiac arrest on the incidence of shivering.

A retrospective observational cohort study at a large academic medical center of adult patients who underwent TTM targeting 33 °C following out-of-hospital (OHCA) or in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) was conducted between January 2013 and January 2019. Patients were included in the preprotocol group if they received TTM prior to the initiation of a pharmacologic antishivering protocol in 2015. The primary outcome was incidence of shivering between pre- and postprotocol patients. Secondary outcomes included time from arrest (IHCA) or admission to the hospital (OHCA) to goal body temperature, total time spent at goal body temperature, and percentage of patients alive at discharge. All pharmacologic agents listed as part of the antishivering protocol were recorded.

Fifty-one patients were included in the preprotocol group, and 80 patients were included in the postprotocol group. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups, including percentage of patients experiencing OHCA (75% vs. 63%, p = 0.15) and time from arrest to return of spontaneous circulation (17.5 vs. 17.9 min, p = 0.96). Incidence of patients with shivering was significantly reduced in the postprotocol group (57% vs. 39%, p = 0.03). Time from arrest (IHCA) or admission to the hospital (OHCA) to goal body temperature was similar in both groups (5.1 vs. 5.3 h, p = 0.57), in addition to total time spent at goal body temperature (17.7 vs. 18 h, p = 0.93). The percentage of patients alive at discharge was significantly improved in the postprotocol group (35% vs. 55%, p = 0.02). Patients in the postprotocol group received significantly more buspirone (4% vs. 73%, p < 0.01), meperidine (8% vs. 34%, p < 0.01), and acetaminophen (12% vs. 65%, p < 0.01) as part of the pharmacologic antishivering protocol. Use of neuromuscular blockade significantly decreased post protocol (19% vs. 6%, p = 0.02).

In patients undergoing TTM following cardiac arrest, the implementation of a pharmacologic antishivering protocol reduced the incidence of shivering and the use neuromuscular blocking agents. Prospective data are needed to validate the results and further evaluate the safety and efficacy of an antishivering protocol on clinical outcomes.