ShareHypothermia and head injury: a new study
According to certain researchers, hypothermia should not be used to treat traumatic brain injuries.
Eurotherm 3235 trial, an international study led by the University of Edinburgh analysed almost 400 cases of traumatic brain injuries from 18 different countries. The first half was treated with standard procedures, the other half with a therapy known as therapeutic hypothermia.
Its consists of cooling the body to between 32-35°C by injecting ice cold intravenous drips within 10 days of the accident. The patient is kept cold using cold blankets or cooling pads for at least 48 hours, then gradually re-warmed to normal body temperature.
The trial shows that hypothermia can successfully reduce brain pressure following head injury. However, results also show that the therapy lessens chances of long-term recovery of head injury patients. According to certain researchers, hypothermia should not be used to treat traumatic brain injuries.
Its consists of cooling the body to between 32-35°C by injecting ice cold intravenous drips within 10 days of the accident. The patient is kept cold using cold blankets or cooling pads for at least 48 hours, then gradually re-warmed to normal body temperature.
The trial shows that hypothermia can successfully reduce brain pressure following head injury. However, results also show that the therapy lessens chances of long-term recovery of head injury patients. According to certain researchers, hypothermia should not be used to treat traumatic brain injuries.