Electrocerebral inactivity as a temperature effect: unlikely as an isolated etiology.

Abstract

Although hypothermia is a cause of occasional cerebral inactivity, it appears that this change occurs only at temperatures well below those seen in most clinical conditions, even in intensive care units. Loss of EEG activity occurs at temperatures below the room temperature in the typical hospital. With elevated temperature, decline in voltage can occur, but it would appear that total cerebral inactivity does not occur solely from hyperthermia, and that the development of such records should strongly suggest to the clinician that there is some additional problem most likely involving anoxia or inadequate vascular supply, if it is clear that drugs are not the responsible factor. Extreme temperature change is usually medically provoked if well monitored. In the very special circumstances where temperature is deliberately varied, it appears that EEG activity can be expected to persist from 66 degrees to 106 degrees F. "Electrocerebral inactivity" should raise the possibility that etiologies other than temperature effect alone are involved.