Effect of mild hypothermia on glucose metabolism and glycerol of brain tissue in patients with severe traumatic brain injury

To study the effect of mild hypothermia on glucose metabolism and glycerol of brain tissue in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).Methods All 33 patients with sTBI(GCS≤8) were randomly divided into hypothermic group and control group.Microdialysis catheters were inserted into the cerebral cortex of perilesion,relative normal brain tissue and subcutaneous tissue of abdomen in order to analyze the concentrations of lactate/pyruvate (L/P),lactate/glucose (L/G) and the glycerol(Gly) in extracellular fluid (ECF).Results In comparison with the control group,the concentration of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery and that of L/P in ECF of the “normal brain tissue” were significantly decreased in the hypothermic group.In control group,concentration of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery were higher than those in relative normal brain.In the hypothermic group,L/P concentration in periphery was higher than that in relative normal brain.Conclusion Mild hypothermia protects brain by decreasing concentrations of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery and L/P concentration in “normal brain tissue”.The energy crisis and membrane phospholipid breakage in periphery are easier to happen after TBI,where mild hypothermia exerts significant protgective role.12 refs,3 tabs.