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Hypothermia in neurocritical care
1Section of Neurocritical Care, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 South Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. nbadjatia@umm.edu
Neurosurgery Clinics of North America
|July 2, 2013
Summary
Therapeutic hypothermia effectively treats acute neurologic injury and manages increased intracranial pressure. This neuroprotective therapy requires careful management through induction, maintenance, and rewarming phases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Therapeutic Hypothermia
Background:
- Hypothermia is a recognized therapy for acute neurologic injury.
- Advances in bedside technology and thermoregulation understanding facilitate its clinical application.
- Management involves distinct induction, maintenance, and rewarming phases, each with potential complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the critical care management of therapeutic hypothermia.
- To highlight its application in neurocritical care, particularly for increased intracranial pressure.
- To discuss the current evidence for its neuroprotective effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on therapeutic hypothermia in neurocritical care.
- Discussion of management strategies for induction, maintenance, and rewarming.
- Analysis of complications and monitoring requirements.
Main Results:
- Therapeutic hypothermia is readily available at the bedside.
- Its primary role in neurocritical care is managing increased intracranial pressure.
- Proven neuroprotective benefits are established in cardiac arrest survivors.
Conclusions:
- Therapeutic hypothermia is a valuable tool in neurocritical care.
- Careful management and monitoring are essential to mitigate complications.
- Further research may expand its neuroprotective applications.
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