Holy Family Hospital Adds “Cooling Therapy” to Treat Heart Attack Victims

7/20/2009

Holy Family Hospital Adds “Cooling Therapy” to Treat Heart Attack Victims

Methuen, Mass – July 20, 2009 – Holy Family Hospital today announced that beginning this week, some heart attack victims will now be treated with “cooling therapy” – induced hypothermia designed to lower a patient’s body temperature to improve neurological recovery in patients who are in a coma after cardiac arrest.  

Studies have shown that a significantly greater percentage of patients who received the cooling treatment ended up with a good to excellent recovery, compared to patients who received standard treatment.  Induced hypothermia is gaining popularity as many Emergency Medical Services are making it a standard care protocol. 

“This is not just about saving a patient’s life; it’s about protecting the brain so that more patients can make a meaningful recovery and enjoy a quality of life similar to what they had before their cardiac arrest,” said Steven Crespo, MD, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Holy Family Hospital.

Holy Family Hospital will work closely with EMS providers around the Merrimack Valley to begin treatment while en route to the hospital. Therapeutic hypothermia involves lowering a patient’s body temperature to 89-93 degrees Fahrenheit with a cooling blanket and other modalities and maintaining it for a period of 24 hours before gradual rewarming. 

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About Holy Family Hospital
Holy Family Hospital is a 271-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving 20 communities throughout the Merrimack Valley and southern New Hampshire. Holy Family is a fully accredited facility and proudly received the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission. For over 50 years, Holy Family Hospital has offered the community advanced medical care, close to home. Holy Family Hospital is a member of Caritas Christi Health Care, New England’s largest community-based hospital network. For more information about the hospital's programs and services visit www.holyfamilyhosp.org. 

Media Contact:
Anna Frankenfield
Communications Manager
anna.frankenfield@caritaschrist.org
(978) 687-0156 ext. 2659