[Influence of cerebral hyperthermia on intracranial pressure and autoregulation of cerebral circulation in patients with acute brain injury].

UNLABELLED

Background. Hyperthermia is a common symptom in ICU patients with brain injury.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of hyperthermia on intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral autoregulation (Prx).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 8 patients with acute brain injury, signs of brain edema and intracranial hypertension. Cerebral autoregulation was assessed by using of PRx. ICP, CPP, BP, PRx were measured before and during hyperthermia. We have analyzed 33 episodes of cerebral hyperthermia over 38.30 C. Statistica 10.0 (StatSoft) was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Only ICP was significantly increased by 6 [3; 11] mm Hg (<0.01). In patients with initially normal ICP, hyperthermia resulted increase of ICP in 48% of cases (median 24 [22; 28] mm Hg). In patients with baseline intracranial hypertension, progression of hypertension was noted in 100% cases (median 31 [27; 32] mm Hg) (<0.01). Hyperthermia resulted intracranial hypertension regardless brain autoregulation status.

CONCLUSION

Cerebral hyperthermia in patients with initially normal ICP results intracranial hypertension in 48% of cases. In case of elevated ICP, further progression of intracranial hypertension occurs in 100% of cases. Cerebral hyperthermia is followed by ICP elevation in both intact and impaired cerebral autoregulation.