Traumatic brain and spinal cord injury are devastating conditions that affect thousands of people each year within the United States. Despite significant research efforts, few successful treatments are available, reflecting the highly complex pathophysiology of neurotrauma. Treatment modalities that target multiple injury pathways may be required to provide robust and long-term improvements in functional recovery. The successful use of therapeutic hypothermia in various patient populations has a rich history, either applied selectively to the nervous tissues or administered systemically. Some recent clinical trials in brain and spinal cord injury have reported benefits with therapeutic hypothermia and targeted temperature management, whereas others have not shown dramatic improvements. This field remains controversial in terms of how and when to use temperature-related therapeutic interventions to maximize protection and repair. This chapter summarizes current knowledge on this evolving field and discusses future directions for research and clinical care.
Targeted Temperature Management With Total Liquid Ventilation After Ischemic Spinal Cord Injury
