[Total and cranio-cerebral hypothermia in patients subjected to surgery for brain tumors]

The paper is based on the authors' personal experience in the employment of general and craniocerebral hypothermia in 90 patients operated on for brain tumours. The most rational level of hypothermia is that of 30-31 degrees C body temperature. Craniocerebral hypothermia induced by the "Holod-2F" apparatus permits to reduce the cortical temperature to 26-28 degrees C, maintaining that of the body within 30-32 degrees C. Such temperature gradient permits to avoid the danger of ventricular fibrillation. In the majority of cases, surgery under craniocerebral hypothermia is free of brain oedema. The postoperative course is also free of brain oedema and pneumonia. Tabulated statistical processing presents the data on the speed and degree of cooling in different parts of the body with reference to the age and body weight of the patient, to the method of cooling, and to the temperature of the cooling fluid.