Peritoneal dialysis to induce hypothermia in a head-injured patient: case report.
Hypothermia is of proven benefit in cerebral ischemia, and may be of benefit in blunt head injury. Peritoneal dialysis is a fast, effective method of inducing generalized hypothermia. A case is reported in which peritoneal dialysis was used to induce mild hypothermia (34.5-36 degrees C) in a patient who sustained a severe head injury, with intracranial hypertension unresponsive to hyperventilation, osmotic diuresis, and barbiturate coma. Hypothermia was associated with prompt control of temperature and intracranial pressure. Peritoneal dialysis is a useful method for inducing hypothermia in the blunt head-injured patient.
General Surgery Service, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.
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Wortham
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D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy