Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Explicit inclusion criteria were not reported. The included studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective controlled studies with historical controls.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies of induced hypothermia were eligible for inclusion. The hypothermic temperature was 32 to 34 degrees C. The techniques used for cooling were surface cooling with ice packs, cooling blankets, cooling mattresses, alcohol baths, or a combination of other methods. Sedative and paralytic agents were administered. Re-warming was conduced by either passive or active means. Further details on the techniques used were reported. Comparison groups were treated according to standard hospital protocols.
Participants included in the review
Studies of those who had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were eligible for inclusion. The participants in the included studies were aged from 33 to 89 years and most were male.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies assessing neurological deficit were eligible for inclusion. The outcomes assessed varied and included the Glasgow Outcome Scale, rehabilitation specialist evaluation for discharge location, Pittsburgh Cerebral Performance Categories, Cerebral Performance Categories, discharge disposition, modified Rankin score and Mini-Mental Status Examination. The complications evaluated in the included studies were sepsis, coagulopathies, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, arrhythmias and electrolyte abnormalities.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The author did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.