Induced mild hypothermia and the prevention of neurological injury.

Induced mild hypothermia to reduce the body temperature to 32 degrees C to 34 degrees C has proved beneficial in reducing anoxic brain injury after resuscitation, severe stroke, newborn hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, hepatic encephalopathy, and neurological infection. The body is cooled through external and internal techniques. External techniques such as cooling blankets and ice bags, although effective, require time to cool the body. Recent studies suggest that internal techniques such as cold saline infusions and endovascular cooling catheters decrease times to cool the body, improving patient outcomes. Normal thermoregulation, indications for thermoregulation, procedures, and potential complications are reviewed.