PERITONEAL-DIALYSIS TO INDUCE HYPOTHERMIA IN A HEAD-INJURED PATIENT -CASE-REPORT

Hypothermia is of proven benefit in cerebral ischemia, and may be of b enefit in blunt head injury. Peritoneal dialysis is a fast, effective method of inducing generalized hypothermia. A case is reported in whic h peritoneal dialysis was used to induce mild hypothermia (34.5-36-deg rees-C) in a patient who sustained a severe head injury, with intracra nial hypertension unresponsive to hyperventilation, osmotic diuresis, and barbiturate coma. Hypothermia was associated with prompt control o f temperature and intracranial pressure. Peritoneal dialysis is a usef ul method for inducing hypothermia in the blunt head-injured patient.