Therapeutic applications of hypothermia in cerebral ischaemia

Bruno P Meloni1, Frank L Mastaglia, Neville W Knuckey

  • 1Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute A Block, 1st Floor QEII Medical Centre Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia 6009. meloni@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

There is considerable experimental evidence that hypothermia is neuroprotective and can reduce the severity of brain damage after global or focal cerebral ischaemia. However, despite successful clinical trials for cardiac arrest and perinatal hypoxia-ischaemia and a number of trials demonstrating the safety of moderate and mild hypothermia in stroke, there are still no established guidelines for its use clinically. Based upon a review of the experimental studies we discuss the clinical implications for the use of hypothermia as an adjunctive therapy in global cerebral ischaemia and stroke and make some suggestions for its use in these situations.

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