Hypothermia in Traumatic Brain Injury in Children (HiTBIC)

Last updated: June 18, 2010
Sponsor: Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

2/3

Condition

Memory Loss

Neurologic Disorders

Traumatic Brain Injury

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

NCT00282269
NTX/06/02/002
  • Ages 1-16
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is:

  • To determine the safety and feasibility of performing an international multi-centre randomized control trial of early and prolonged hypothermia to improve outcome in children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

  • To determine whether in children with severe traumatic brain injury, prolonged initial hypothermia (minimum 72 hours at 32-33 degrees) improves the proportion of good outcomes 12 months after injury when compared to initial normothermia (36-37 degrees).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • have a severe traumatic brain injury as defined by either a GCS ≤ 8 and an abnormal CTscan (intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral edema or diffuse axonal injury) or a motorscore ≤ 3 and normal CT scan

  • are aged between 1 and 16 years

  • are mechanically ventilated

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • are not randomized by 6 hours after injury

  • have penetrating brain injuries

  • have fixed dilated pupils and GCS = 3

  • have proven cervical spinal cord injury

  • have more than mild neurodevelopmental disability prior to injury

  • have an acute isolated epidural hematoma and are expected to recover rapidly aftersurgical removal

  • have had a post-traumatic seizure with a normal CT scan

  • have refractory shock, defined as systolic blood pressure more than 2 standarddeviations (SD) below the mean for age despite 80ml/kg intravenous fluid resuscitation

Study Design

Total Participants: 50
Study Start date:
November 01, 2006
Estimated Completion Date:
June 30, 2010

Study Description

We propose to do a pilot study of 50 children admitted with severe TBI to paediatric intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand. Severe TBI will be defined as children with either (i) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8 and an abnormal CT scan or (ii) motor score of ≤ 3 and normal CT scan. Children will be included only if they can be randomised within 6 hours of the injury occurring. Patients will be stratified a priori by (i) centre and (ii) Glasgow Coma Score. One half will be cooled to 32-33°C for 72 hours and then slowly rewarmed. If intracranial hypertension occurs during or after rewarming, the hypothermia group will have cooling continued until intracranial pressure (ICP) is controlled. The other half will have their temperature maintained at 36-37°C. All other aspects of care will be managed with a standardised protocol.

The purpose of this pilot study is to establish the feasibility of doing an outcome study with other international centres. It will also assess the safety of more prolonged cooling and protocol adherence. Primary outcomes will be the frequency of adverse events related to hypothermia, recruitment rates and protocol adherence. These children may also be able to be included in a larger trial.

The primary aim of the outcome study will be to determine whether, in children with severe TBI, prolonged initial hypothermia improves the proportion with good outcome 12 months after injury when compared to initial normothermia. Outcome will be assessed at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome measure will be a Paediatric Cerebral Performance Category (PCPC) at 12 months after the date of injury, dichotomized to poor outcome (categories 4-6) and good outcome (categories 1-3). Secondary outcome measures will be (i) PCPC at 6 after injury (ii) standardised tests (intelligence and memory, functional outcome, attention, executive functions) 12 months after injury (iii) ICP and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) during the first 5 days of treatment (v) frequency and nature of interventions to control ICP/CPP (vi) duration of mechanical ventilation and (vii) potential adverse events.

Connect with a study center

  • Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children

    Sydney, New South Wales
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Sydney Children's Hospital

    Sydney, New South Wales
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Queensland Paediatric Intensive Care Services

    Brisbane, Queensland
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Women's and Children's Hospital

    Adelaide, South Australia
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Royal Children's Hospital

    Melbourne, Victoria
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Princess Margaret Hospital

    Perth, Western Australia
    Australia

    Site Not Available

  • Starship Children's Hospital

    Auckland,
    New Zealand

    Site Not Available

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