L'hypothermie induite en réanimation : un sujet brûlant ?

Hypothermia is more and more frequently induced in the intensive care unit, in order to protect the brain and the heart from ischemia-reperfusion and post-traumatic lesions. It may activate various protective cellular processes and have anti-inflammatory properties. Hypothermia is most of the time induced in a non-invasive and moderate way (32-34 °C). However if hypothermia seems promised to widespread applications in intensive care, one should not forget its potential side effects, likely to limit its benefit; It should not either be occulted that apart from the cardiocirculatory arrest and in spite of multiple experimental and clinical arguments, the level of proof for its use in other pathologies remains limited. We will also try to release the practical aspects such as the practical methods of cooling, as well as the optimal durations of cooling or later reheating.