• Frank Hildebrand, Peter Radermacher, Steffen Ruchholtz, Markus Huber-Lang, Andreas Seekamp, Sascha Flohé, Martijn van Griensven, Hagen Andruszkow, and Hans-Christoph Pape.
• Department of Orthopedic Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery and Harald Tscherne Laboratory, University of Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, Aachen, 52074, Germany, fhildebrand@ukaachen.de.
• Intensive Care Med Exp. 2014 Dec 1; 2 (1): 16.

AbstractRecent experimental research has either focused on the role of accidental hypothermia as part of the lethal triad after trauma or tried to elucidate the effects of therapeutically induced hypothermia on the posttraumatic course. Induced hypothermia seems to reduce the mortality in experimental models of trauma-haemorrhage. As potential mechanisms, a decrease of cellular metabolism, beneficial effects on haemodynamic function and an attenuation of the inflammatory response have been described. However, negative side effects of hypothermia have to be considered, such as impairment of the coagulatory function and immunosuppressive effects. Furthermore, the optimal strategy for the induction of hypothermia (magnitude, duration, timing, cooling rate, etc.) and subsequent rewarming remains unclear. Nevertheless, this piece of information is essential before considering hypothermia as a treatment strategy for severely injured patients. This review aims to elaborate the differences between accidental and induced hypothermia and to summarize the current knowledge of the potential therapeutic use of induced hypothermia suggested in porcine models of trauma-haemorrhage.

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