[Effect of moderate hypothermia on intracranial pressure and brain tissue oxygen tension in head injury].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) and brain tissue oxygen tension (PO(2)) and their significance in severe head injury treated by moderate hypothermia (33-35 degrees Celsius).


METHODS
Eighteen patients with severe head injury were treated with moderate hypothermia group and probes were deployed in the cerebral cortex for measuring their ICP and PO(2) under continuous monitoring. Another 14 similar patients receiving the same treatment but without hypothermia served as the control group.


RESULTS
In moderate hypothermia group the ICP gradually decreased and PO(2) increased after 24 hours of hypothermia, with obvious difference from the control group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate hypothermia can obviously reduce ICP and improve brain tissue oxygen metabolism to lower the morbidity and mortality rate of severe head injury.
Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen Longgang Central Hospital, Shenzhen 518116, China. linzhengruiqing@21cn.com
Yuan-quan
YQ
Lin
Jun
J
Jia
Wen-feng
WF
Liu
Jun
J
Zhang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*
D010100:Oxygen