Induced mild hypothermia in children after brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the safety and effectiveness of mild induced hypothermia in children after traumatic or posthypoxic brain injury. Thirteen patients after traumatic or poshypoxic brain injury were involved in the study. Mean age was 11.1 +/- 5.7 years. Median GCS 6 (3-8), PIM2 20.3 +/- 28.2%.


RESULTS
GOS 5 was assigned for six (46%) patients and GOS 4 for seven (54%) patients. Average GOS in patients after severe head trauma was 4.1 points; in patients with posthypoxic brain injury 5 points (p < 0.05). No life threatening complications occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Mild induced hypothermia can be safely used in pediatric patients after severe traumatic or posthypoxic brain injury. This method may be of benefit while improving outcomes in children.
Grinkeviciute
Dovile
D
Clinic of Children Diseases, Kaunas University of Medicine Hospital, Kaunas, Lithuania. dovilgrin@hotmail.com
Kevalas
Rimantas
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric