Targeted temperature management in brain protection: An evidence-based review

• Published in: Indian journal of anaesthesia Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 9 - 14
• Main Authors: Tripathy, Swagata, Mahapatra, Ashok Kumar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01-01-2015; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Brain; Care and treatment; Endovascular cooling; Fever; hypothermia; Medical examination; neuroprotection; Physiological aspects; Risk factors; Special; targeted temperature management; therapeutic temperature management; India; therapeutic temperature management; Endovascular cooling; hypothermia; neuroprotection; targeted temperature management
• ISSN: 0019-5049; 0976-2817
• DOI: 10.4103/0019-5049.149442

Targeted temperature management (TTM) for neuroprotection involves maintaining the temperature of the brain at predetermined levels by various techniques. It is aimed at avoiding the harmful effects of hyperthermia on the brain and at exploiting the protective effects of lower tissue temperature. There has been an explosion in the use of TTM for neuroprotection in a variety of clinical scenarios apart from the commonly accepted fields of resuscitation and ischaemic, hypoxic encephalopathy. This review briefly discusses the evidence base for TTM. The focus is on various areas of application for neuroprotection, the practical issues pertaining to TTM implementation, the recent data that support it and the present areas of controversy.