The significance of the relation between brain temperature and core temperature in brain hypothermia treatment for severe traumatic brain injury

Recently some studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the brain temperature measurement for monitoring. This study involved 9 patients with severe brain injury. 6 patients underwent decompressive craniectomy (Group A). 3 patients underwent conservative treatment (Group B). All patients underwent hypothermia treatment. Brain temperature were monitored by an intraparenchymal catheters. Bladder temperature was used for core temperature. The jugular venous oxygen saturation (SjO(2)) was continuously measured. The temperature difference between brain and core temperature (delta T) in Group A was lower than Group B. A significant correlation between delta T and SjO(2) was seen in Group B, but not in Group A. Therefore, delta T can be a reliable indicator of cerebral blood flow and metabolism in TBI patients with a closed cranium.