Comment: The prognosis for long term outcomes in severely head-injured patients is grim. This study shows some promise when mild hypothermia (34AC) is combined with hyperventilation, fluid restriction, and high-dose barbiturates. Researchers were not blinded to the treatment groups although patients were randomized. No information is given regarding mean arterial blood pressure or central venous pressure; IV fluids were adjusted to maintain urine output. No rating scale other than death vs. a return to a productive life is used. More objective data may be useful in determining the degree of recovery in a larger group of patients.
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Shiozaki et al. (1994) studied this question.