Active hypothermia in the management of head injuries

<jats:p> For over half a century scientists and clinicians have been attempting to discover if moderate therapeutic hypothermia (32–34°C) is beneficial in the treatment of severe brain injury. Deep hypothermia (15–22°C) has long been recognized as one method of achieving neuroprotection, but is not without serious implications and risks to the patient. However, hyperthermia among headinjured patients is known to be associated with a worse outcome as compared to a normothermic cohort. Early work suggested that hypothermia could protect the brain after traumatic head injury. </jats:p>