[Reevaluation of hypothermia as protective measures against cerebral ischemia].

Two patients underwent carotid artery ligation for the purpose of surgical hemostasis either under hypothermia or under normothermia. One was 56-year-old man with rupture of brachiocephalic artery following esophagectomy. The bilateral common carotid arteries were ligated for bypass-grafting between the right internal carotid artery and the left common carotid artery for 35 min under surface-induced hypothermia at a rectal temperature of 30.7 degrees C. No postoperative neurological deficit developed. The other was 40-year-old woman with a malignant parotid tumor involving left internal carotid artery. The left carotid artery was ligated for 20 min at a rectal temperature of 37.3 degrees C. Cerebral ischemia developed postoperatively. Mild to moderate hypothermia should be reevaluated as one of useful measures to protect the brain from cerebral ischemia.