Correction of Local Brain Temperature after Severe Brain Injury Using Hypothermia and Medical Microwave Radiometry (MWR) as Companion Diagnostics

Abstract

The temperature of the brain can reflect the activity of its different regions, allowing us to evaluate the connections between them. A study involving 111 patients in a vegetative state or minimally conscious state used microwave radiometry to measure their cortical temperature. The patients were divided into a main group receiving a 10-day selective craniocerebral hypothermia (SCCH) procedure, and a control group receiving basic therapy and rehabilitation. The main group showed a significant improvement in consciousness level as measured by CRS-R assessment on day 14 compared to the control group. Temperature heterogeneity increased in patients who received SCCH, while remaining stable in the control group. The use of microwave radiometry to assess rehabilitation effectiveness and the inclusion of SCCH in rehabilitation programs appears to be a promising approach.

Keywords

• medical microwave radiometry (MWR)
• cerebral cortex
• vegetative state (VS)
• Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R)
• minimally conscious state (MCS)
• hypothermia