Moderate hypothermia may be detrimental after traumatic brain injury in fentanyl-anesthetized rats.

Objectives: To determine whether transient, moderate hypothermia is beneficial after traumatic brain injury in fentanyl-anesthetized rats.

Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: University-based animal research facility.

Induced hyperthermia exacerbates neurologic neuronal histologic damage after asphyxial cardiac arrest in rats.

Background: Temperature is an important modulator of the evolution of ischemic brain injury--with hypothermia lessening and hyperthermia exacerbating damage. We recently reported that children resuscitated from predominantly asphyxial arrest often develop an initial spontaneous hypothermia followed by delayed hyperthermia. The initial hypothermia observed in these children was frequently treated with warming lights which, despite careful monitoring, often resulted in overshoot hyperthermia.