Disassociation between intracranial and systemic temperatures as an early sign of brain death

• Published in: Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology Vol. 15; no. 2; p. 87
• Main Authors: Fountas, K N, Kapsalaki, E Z, Feltes, C H, Smisson, 3rd, H F, Johnston, K W, Grigorian, A, Robinson, Jr, J S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Blood Pressure - physiology; Body Temperature - physiology; Brain - physiology; Brain Death - diagnosis; Brain Death - physiopathology; Cerebral Ventricles - physiology; Female; Humans; Intracranial Pressure - physiology; Male; Middle Aged; Neurosurgical Procedures; Prognosis; Propofol; Prospective Studies
• DOI: 10.1097/00008506-200304000-00004
• ISSN: 0898-4921

Intracranial temperature and its normal variation, as well as its response to various pathologic conditions, has become a critical component of monitoring in neurosurgical intensive care. In a prospective clinical study of 54 neurosurgical patients, intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and intraventricular and systemic temperatures were monitored in a neurosurgical intensive care unit. All of our patients' intraventricular temperatures were initially higher than their systemic temperatures. In 11 patients, the intraventricular temperature became lower than the systemic temperature, in a median time of 4.43 hours (range, 4.21-5.18 hours), prior to any changes in intracranial and cerebral perfusion pressures. Reversal of the disassociation between intraventricular and systemic temperatures may be an early marker of patients with a poor prognosis.