Temperature management in acute neurologic injury: to cool or not to cool

J Pharm Pract. 2010 Oct;23(5):483-91. doi: 10.1177/0897190010372335. Epub 2010 Jul 19.

Abstract

Therapeutic hypothermia is becoming an important intervention following acute neurologic injury despite inconclusive results concerning efficacy. This enthusiasm primarily stems from a lack of other effective interventions in this population. With the increase in the use of therapeutic hypothermia, several practical issues must be considered when initiating this intervention. Clinical pharmacists can play an important role in anticipating and addressing some complications such as shivering, slow drug metabolism, and infection. This review will discuss the available literature concerning the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia in various neurologic injuries, as well as the most common adverse events associated with it.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Analgesics, Opioid / pharmacology
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Body Temperature / drug effects
  • Body Temperature / physiology*
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Brain Injuries / therapy
  • Disease Management
  • Humans
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives / therapeutic use
  • Hypothermia, Induced / methods*
  • Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Nervous System Diseases / therapy*
  • Shivering / drug effects
  • Shivering / physiology
  • Stroke / physiopathology
  • Stroke / therapy

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Hypnotics and Sedatives