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The acutely ischemic or traumatized brain is inordinately susceptible to the damaging influence of even modest brain temperature elevations.While controlled clinical investigations will be required to establish the therapeutic efficacy and safety of frank hypothermia in patients with acute stroke,the available evidence is sufficiently compelling to justify the recommendation,at this time,that fever be combated assiduously in acute stroke and trauma patients,even if"minor"in degree and even when delayed in onset.We suggest that body temperature be maintained in a safe normothermic range(eg,36.7 C to 37.0 C[98.0F to 98.6F])for at least the first several days after acute stroke or head injury. |
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