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.