Final answer:
To manage hyperthermia and hypothermia during cardiac arrest, medical professionals monitor and adjust the patient's body temperature. Hypothermia is treated with controlled cooling, while hyperthermia requires methods to reduce the elevated body temperature. Both conditions impact the heart and overall patient outcome, emphasizing the importance of temperature regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify and treat hyperthermia and hypothermia during cardiac arrest, medical professionals monitor the patient's body temperature and take action based on whether the temperature is too high (hyperthermia) or too low (hypothermia). In the case of hypothermia, controlled cooling methods are used, especially after cardiac arrest, to reduce the body temperature to around 91 degrees Fahrenheit, thereby slowing down the patient's metabolism. This helps reduce the demand for oxygen by various organs, hence decreasing the workload of the heart.
Controlled hypothermia is also applied during open-heart surgery by cooling the body to 79-89 degrees Fahrenheit, preventing shivering through medication, and using a heart-lung pump to maintain blood circulation. The cardiac muscle itself may be cooled to below 60 degrees Fahrenheit to withstand the lack of blood supply.
In cases of hyperthermia, the focus is on reducing the elevated temperature to prevent damage to the brain and other organs. It's important to remember that extreme variations in body temperature are harmful and can lead to death, underscoring the importance of maintaining a stable body temperature during and after cardiac arrest.