New Brain Surgical Techniques

The Miracle on Ice

http://health.msn.com/general/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100158313&GT1=10008


Interesting article about the use of cooling techniques in brain surgery. By cooling to 91.4 Fahrenheit it turns out to be possible to slow brain cell metabolism so that it's possible to conduct an operation that would usually take too long and render the brain dead. Inducing hypothermia is slowly beginning to be seen as a valid surgical technique.

When bloodflow is cut off to the brain, such as in a stroke, the cells begin releasing glutamate, calcium, free radicals etc. that lead to necrosis. Somehow, mild hypothermia slows this down. This particular technique brings about philosophical questions but ultimately the advantages of this technique lie in it's potential to treat stroke and other such diseases.