Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · Oct 2020
Meta AnalysisA systematic review and meta-analysis of hypothermia in experimental traumatic brain injury: why have promising animal studies not been replicated in pragmatic clinical trials?
Therapeutic hypothermia was a mainstay of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) management for half a century. Recent trials have suggested that its effect on long-term functional outcome is neutral or negative, despite apparently promising pre-clinical data. Systematic review and meta-analysis is a useful tool to collate experimental data and investigate the basis of its conclusions. ⋯ Therapeutic hypothermia appears to be an efficacious treatment in experimental TBI, which differs from the clinical evidence. The pre-clinical literature showed limitations in quality and design and these both appeared to affect neurobehavioral experiment outcome. These should be acknowledged when designing and interpreting pre-clinical TBI studies in the future.