Elderlypatients 60 years of age and older with infarcts affecting more than two-thirds of the MCA territory were included. Patientswho could not receive DHC were treated with TH. Hypothermia was started within 72 hours of symptom onset and was maintained for a minimum of 72 hours with a target temperature of 33°C. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 3 months following treatment and complications of TH were used as functional outcomes.
RESULTS:
Eleven patients with a median age of 76 years and a median National Institutes of HealthStroke Scale score of 18 were treated with TH. The median time from symptom onset to initiation of TH was 30.3±23.0 hours and TH was maintained for a median of 76.7±57.1 hours. Shivering (100%) and electrolyte imbalance (82%) were frequent complications. Two patients died (18%). The mean mRS score 3 months following treatment was 4.9±0.8.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results suggest that extended use of hypothermia is safe and feasible for elderlypatients with large hemispheric infarctions. Hypothermia may be considered as a therapeutic alternative to DHC in elderly individuals. Further studies are required to validate our findings.