Effect of hypothermia treatment on brain protection in patients with severe traumatic brain injuries

Objective To study the effect of mild hypothermia therapy on brain protection in patients with severe head injury.Methods Of 66 patients with acute severe craniocerebral injury,34 were treated with the routine managements and sub- hypothermia within the first 24 hours after the injury( sub- hypothermia group) in which the rectal temperature was maintained between 32 ~ 35 ℃,while 32 were treated with the traditional treatments within 24 h after injury( control group). Intracranial pressure,clinical efficacy,and complications were compared between the two groups. Results Good recovery rate in the sub- hypothermia group was significantly higher than that in the control group while mortality rate in the sub- hypothermia group was significantly lower than that in the control group( all P 0. 05). Intracranial pressure after 3 and 7 days of injuries in the sub- hypothermia group was lower than that in the control group( P 0. 05). However,no significant difference in complications was found between the two groups. Conclusions The sub- hypothermia treatment is safe and effective for preventing brain damage of the patients with severe head injury,and can reduce the mortality and improve the prognosis.