Study Shows Promise For Hypothermia Treatment In Children
A first-of-its-kind multi-center trial has shown that cooling the body can have positive affects on children who suffered traumatic brain injury. Neurosurgeon P. David Adelson from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and fellow researchers determined that inducing moderate hypothermia after a child suffered a severe traumatic brain injury is safe.
When someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, there are certain bodily responses which can work to make the injury more severe. Previous studies in adults has shown that hypothermia may limit some of these harmful responses. In this study doctors found that hypothermia tended to reduce mortality, lower the severity of intracranial hypertension during the cooling phase and has the potential to improve the functional outcome of young patients.
You can read the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's press release here.
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This study, like others examining potential benefits of therapeutic hypothermia, recommends the use of Cooling Blankets (aka Hypo-hyperthermia blankets). However, researchers are not aware that all cooling blankets are not the same. Some blanket systems can effieciently regulate a patient's core temperature, but others cannot and may even pose a serious risk of patient injury if used to lower core temperature or used to lower milignant hyperthermia. The blanket system with the best track record is manufactured by a company called MTRE (Israel). Their system names are CritiCool, CureWrap, Allon and ThermoWrap. These products are available in the US by calling 800-267-6077. MTRE products are also available through PREMIER, Inc. the hospital GPO.
