Hypothermia: a double-edged sword.

Therapeutic hypothermia is currently used to reduce neurological ischemic damage in postcardiac arrest patients. Nevertheless, it has been associated with relevant side effects such as infections, bleeding, hypotension and hyperkalemia. Although hypothermia-induced coronary spasm is rare, its occurrence needs to be considered attentively as it adds a high risk of ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac arrest in patients with already-existing critical heart conditions.