Hypothermia as a clinical neuroprotectant

Andrew L Sherman; Michael Y Wang

doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2014.04.003

Hypothermia as a clinical neuroprotectant

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2014 Aug;25(3):519-29, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.04.003.

Authors

Andrew L Sherman¹, Michael Y Wang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1611 Northwest 12th Avenue, 9th Floor, Miami, FL 33136, USA. Electronic address: asherman@med.miami.edu.
² Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1095 Northwest, 14th Terrace, Miami, FL 33136, USA.

PMID: 25064786
DOI: 10.1016/j.pmr.2014.04.003

Abstract

Applying therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for the purposes of neuroprotection, originally termed "hibernation," started nearly 100 years ago. Because TH cooling systems have improved to the point where it is practical and safe for general application, interest in providing such treatment in conditions such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and cardiac arrest has increased. This article reviews the mechanisms by which TH mitigates secondary neurologic injury, the clinical scenarios where TH is being applied, and reviews selected published studies using TH for central nervous system neuroprotection.

Keywords: ASIA score; Hypothermia; Methylprednisolone; Neuroprotection; Spinal cord injury; Trauma.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Body Temperature
Body Temperature Regulation / physiology
Humans
Hypothermia, Induced* / methods
Models, Animal
Patient Selection
Spinal Cord Injuries / complications*
Spinal Cord Injuries / therapy*
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / therapy