Method and system for treating cardiac arrest using hypothermia

Abstract

A method for treating cardiac arrest includes defibrillating the patient and/or ventilating the patient and/or administering a cardiac arrest drug such as epinephrine to resuscitate the patient, and then cooling the patient using one or more cooling catheter positioned in the central venous system of the patient.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating cardiac arrest using hypothermia, comprising the acts of: 
 resuscitating the patient; and    inducing hypothermia in the patient.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the resuscitating act includes at least one of: defibrillating the patient, administering a precordial thump to the patient, ventilating the patient, and administering one or more of: epinephrine, buffers, antiarrhythmics, and atropine, to the patient.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein hypothermia is induced by circulating coolant through a catheter positioned in the patient's central venous system.