The significance of altered temperature after traumatic brain injury: an analysis of investigations in experimental and human studies: Part 2

Abstract

Raised body temperature is a common occurrence after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). It is widely accepted that experimental evidence points to a harmful effect of raised temperature both during and after TBI. Consequently, the policy of many neurocritical care units is to implement therapies for body temperature control. This article reviews the evidence that links spontaneous temperature changes with worsened outcome after experimentally-induced and human brain trauma. The current evidence-base and rationale for treatment of raised temperature after TBI is presented with discussion positing areas for further work to explore the notion that raised temperature may not be deleterious in all neurosurgical patients.

Key words:

• Experimental
• human
• hypothermia
• raised brain temperature
• trauma
• secondary brain damage