Induced hypothermia in the management of cerebral oedema secondary to fulminant liver failure

Abstract

The use of mild hypothermia in the management of blunt head trauma has been shown to significantly improve clinical outcomes. The use of moderate controlled hypothermia in the patient with severely raised intracranial pressure (ICP) secondary to fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) has similar potential benefits, but is not a widely accepted practice. We report a case where the use of hypothermia in the management of severely raised ICP both before and after liver transplantation was thought to effect a beneficial outcome.