Final answer:
Targeted temperature management for a non-responsive patient involves inducing controlled hypothermia, lowering body temperature to a range of 32°C to 36°C to reduce metabolic rate and organ damage risk post-cardiac arrest.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient is not following commands and requires targeted temperature management, it is typically advised to start controlled hypothermia as soon as possible. This would involve lowering the patient's body temperature to a targeted temperature range of approximately 32°C to 36°C (89.6°F to 96.8°F). Maintaining the temperature within this range for a period, usually 24 hours, can decrease the patient's metabolic rate and reduce the risk of damage to organs, particularly following cardiac arrest. It's important to prevent shivering, as shivering can increase the metabolic rate and counteract the benefits of hypothermia. Medication is often administered for this purpose.
For instance, some emergency department physicians cool a patient's body to approximately 91°F (32.8°C) after cardiac arrest. This cooling not only slows the patient's metabolic rate but also reduces the heart's workload since organs require less blood, aiding in recovery. It's important to monitor the patient continuously during this process to manage any potential complications.