Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
05:00
Short-Duration Hypothermia Induction in Rats using Models for Studies examining Clinical Relevance and Mechanisms
Published on: March 3, 2021
Therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy
1Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Children's Hospital of Michigan, # 4C19, 3901 Beaubien Boulevard, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA, sshankar@med.wayne.edu.
Current Treatment Options in Neurology
|September 26, 2012
Summary
Therapeutic hypothermia is a proven neuroprotective strategy for term infants suffering from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). This cooling therapy reduces death and disability, offering a critical intervention for newborns with HIE.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Neuroprotection
Background:
- Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in term infants carries a high risk of mortality and long-term morbidity.
- The pathophysiology involves a cascade of excitotoxic and oxidative injury leading to cell death.
- Therapeutic hypothermia has demonstrated protective effects by mitigating these injury pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence and clinical application of therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal HIE.
- To outline current recommendations for the implementation of hypothermia therapy.
- To emphasize the importance of multimodal assessment for prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of major randomized clinical trials and clinical/imaging evidence.
- Recommendations for patient selection, target temperature (33-34°C), and duration (72 hours).
- Guidelines for rewarming, neurological monitoring, multi-organ support, and advanced neuroimaging (MRI, aEEG).
Main Results:
- Therapeutic hypothermia significantly reduces death and disability in term infants with HIE.
- Continued safety and efficacy of neuroprotection are demonstrated into childhood.
- Clinical and imaging evidence supports hypothermia's neuroprotective role.
Conclusions:
- Hypothermia should be offered to eligible term infants within 6 hours of birth.
- Specific protocols for temperature management, monitoring, and follow-up are crucial.
- Multimodal assessments including neurological exams, aEEG, and MRI aid in prognosis and long-term outcome evaluation.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Methods of reducing fever
The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
01:29Decreased Body Temperature
A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by sustained extreme cold exposure, and severe...