
Survival and Neurological Function in Patients Treated with ECMO and Therapeutic Hypothermia: Protocol for an Updated Systematic Review
This article outlines an updated protocol for a systematic review focused on evaluating the effects of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and therapeutic hypothermia on survival rates and neurological function in cardiac arrest patients. Despite the widespread application of ECMO enhancing clinical outcomes, its effectiveness remains limited. Therapeutic hypothermia, aimed at maintaining body temperatures between 32°C and 36°C, offers potential neuroprotection and improved survival but is still controversial. This review aims to clarify these interventions’ impacts by systematically searching major databases and analyzing data from a variety of study designs.