Hypothermia in acute blunt head injury.
Mild to moderate hypothermia has been employed since the 1940s in the treatment of acute blunt head trauma. The utility of hypothermia in ischemic injury has been confirmed, by both animal studies and clinical experience, in cardiovascular and neurological surgery. In blunt injury, though, only one prospective, randomized study has shown a statistically significant improvement in long term outcome. Clinical experience, animal data, proposed mechanisms, technical considerations, and potential risks are reviewed. Hypothermia remains controversial in the setting of blunt head injury but may prove to be a useful treatment modality.
Cancio
L C
LC
General Surgery Service, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234.
Wortham
W G
WG
Zimba
F
F
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000628:therapy*