Hypothermia before and after insult

It is well established that hypothermia will protect cerebral and cord tissue against necrosis from prolonged ischemia. The optimum depth of hypothermia and safe total time has not yet been established. There is considerable evidence that hypothermia may be useful as a treatment adjunct after trauma or ischemias, but the same caveats apply. There are agreed risks, the exact nature of which are unknown, and there are suspicions that hypothermia after the insult may be only delaying the natural recovery processes.