Der Nervenarzt
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
[Moderate hypothermia for the treatment of malignant middle cerebral artery infarct].
Moderate hypothermia was induced in 30 patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction. Patients were kept at 33 degrees C body-core temperature for 48 to 72 h, and ICP, CPP, and brain temperature were monitored. Outcome at 4 weeks and at 3 months after the stroke as well as side effects of moderate hypothermia were analysed. ⋯ The most frequent complication of moderate hypothermia was pneumonia in 12 of the 30 patients (40%). Other severe side effects of hypothermia could not be detected. Moderate hypothermia may improve clinical outcome in patients with malignant MCA infarction.