In treating a patient with cardiac arrest, what does targeted temperature management aim to achieve?

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is a therapeutic approach implemented in the care of patients who have suffered a cardiac arrest. The primary objective of TTM is to reduce neurological injury following an event of cardiac arrest. When the heart stops, blood flow, and thus oxygen delivery to the brain, is severely impaired, which can lead to brain damage due to ischemia. By deliberately lowering the body temperature, usually to a range of 32-36 degrees Celsius (89.6 - 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit), TTM helps to slow down cellular metabolism and decreases the brain’s demand for oxygen.

This lowered metabolic state significantly mitigates the effects of reperfusion injury when blood flow is restored and aids in preserving neurological function. Research has shown that inducing hypothermia after cardiac arrest is associated with improved neurological outcomes, making it a critical component of post-resuscitation care.

The other options, while relevant to cardiac care, do not directly align with the specific aim of targeted temperature management. Preventing hypothermia is counterintuitive in this context because TTM involves inducing hypothermia. Stabilizing heart rhythms can be a factor in advanced cardiac life support but is not the specific goal of TTM. Similarly, increasing blood pressure