On Feb. 21, Zachary Weir, a 31-year-old Huntington resident, arrived by ambulance at St. Mary’s Emergency Department after suffering cardiac arrest resulting in a coma and continuous seizures.

Attempts to stabilize him failed, and he was ultimately intubated and placed on a ventilator.

Emergency department staff called HIMG Physician William R. Beam, MD, who decided to use therapeutic hypothermia to minimize Weir’s neurological and organ damage.

“Therapeutic hypothermia is a relatively inexpensive technology that can markedly improve the outcome for patients who are unconscious after cardiac arrest,” Dr. Beam said. “The technology allows us to combine the expertise of our cardiology, neurology and critical care physicians and staff to minimize brain and organ damage in patients like Zachary Weir.”

During therapeutic hypothermia treatment, the patient’s thighs and chest are wrapped with specially designed pads.

Hoses connected to the pads distribute temperature-controlled water through an electronic monitoring device.

The circulating water lowers the patient’s body temperature to 91-92 degrees Fahrenheit, where it remains for approximately 24 hours.

After that time, body temperature is slowly returned to normal, sedation is lowered and the patient is given an opportunity to wake up.

Weir did just that. After therapeutic hypothermia treatment at St. Mary’s, he showed resolution of his seizures and coma with no neurologic damage and has returned home.