The clinical analysis of mild hypothermia therapy for severe traumatic brain injury in elderly patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effect of mild hypothermia in elderly patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Methods 72 cases of elderly patients with severe traumatic brain injury(GCS≤8) were divided into mild hypothermia therapy group(36 patients)and control group(36 patients) according to the random number table method. Mild hypothermia therapy group received mild hypothermia treatment while control group received normal treatment.The clinical prognosis was analyzed between the two groups. Results After 24h treatment, both mild hypothermia therapy group and control group intracranial pressure began to rise.But the intracranial pressure of the mild hypothermia therapy group(24 h: (13.0±4.5)mmHg, 3 d: (16.6±4.0) mmHg, 5 d: (19.9±3.9)mmHg, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) were significantly lower than those of the control group(24 h: (16.6±3.8) mmHg, 3 d: (20.4±4.8) mmHg; 5 d: (24.1±6.2) mmHg), and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.225, 2.260, 2.192, P=0.035, 0.033, 0.039). The rate of good recovery to the control group and the mild hypothermia therapy group were 22.22% and 47.22% respectively while the mortality were 30.56% and 13.89% respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (χ2=4.936, 5.675, P=0.047, 0.035). Conclusion Mild hypothermia treatment can inhibit the increase of intracranial pressure and reduce disability rate and mortality in elderly patients with severe traumatic brain injury, which can increase the survival rate and improve the long-term prognosis. Key words: Severe traumatic brain injury; Mild hypothermia therapy; Intracranial pressure; Elderly