Local mild hypothermia induced by intra-arterial cold saline infusion prolongs the time window of onset of reperfusion injury after transient focal ischemia in rats

Abstract

Local cold saline infusion to the ischemic territory before reperfusion can lead to mild hypothermia of the ischemic territory and can prolong the therapeutic time window of reperfusion from 2 to 2.5 hours. Refinements of the cooling process, optimal target temperature, duration of the therapy and most importantly, clinical efficacy, require further study.