Overview of Hypothermia, Its Role in Neuroprotection, and the Application of Prophylactic Hypothermia in Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

The current standard of practice is to maintain normothermia in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients despite the theoretical benefits of hypothermia and numerous animal studies with promising results. While targeted temperature management or induced hypothermia to support neurological function is recommended for a select patient population postcardiac arrest, similar guidelines have not been instituted for TBI. In this review, we will examine the pathophysiology of TBI and discuss the benefits and risks of induced hypothermia in this patient population. In addition, we provide an overview of the largest randomized controlled trials testing-induced hypothermia. Our literature review on hypothermia returned a myriad of studies and trials, many of which have inconclusive results. The aim of this review was to recognize the effects of hypothermia, summarize the latest trials, address the inconsistencies, and discuss future directions for the study of hypothermia in TBI.