Summary

Hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury is an important cause of morbidity and mortality following both in- and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Despite significant advances in critical care the only intervention proven to increase survival rates after cardiac arrest is mild hypothermia. The authors present a case describing the use of therapeutic hypothermia after ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, including its indications and contra-indications, and the techniques that can be used to induce it.