BACKGROUND: Moderate hypothermia is one of the effective therapeutic methods for head injury in recent years, there are many mechanisms of moderate hypothermia for brain protection, and its influence on cerebral oxygenation is also one of them.OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of moderate hypothermia on cerebral oxygenation of animals with acute intracranial hypertension, and further investigate the protective mechanism of moderate hypothermia. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital affiliated to the Medical College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.MATERIALS: Twenty healthy little pigs, either male or female, weighing 4.5 - 5.5 kg, were used. Neurotrend-typed multiparameter monitoring system (Diametrics Company, British); CMA/100micro-injection pump (Carnegie Company, Sweden).METHODS: The experiment was conducted in the Changzheng Hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA in November, 2001. The pigs were randomized into two groups: the normothermia group (control group, n =10) and moderate hypothermia group (n =10). ①Bilateral femoral arteries were separated, one was connected to pressometer for monitoring mean arterial pressure (MEP), and the other for analysis of blood gases [including peripheral blood Ph value, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCCh), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), HCO3-].②Rectal temperature was monitored with mercurial thermometer.③Intracranial pressure was monitored using Camino optic ICP probe placed in the subdural space. ④Neurotrend multiparameter monitoring sensor was inserted into the white matter for about 4 cm to determine cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP, CPP=MAP(ICP), brain tissue partial oxygen pressure (PO2), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCCh), HCO3- and brain temperature. The rectal temperature of animals in the moderate hypothermia group was lowered to 34℃ using ice bags, and the body temperature was maintained at 33 - 35℃ for 2 hours. The changes of the parameters were observed continuously, and the pigs in the normothermia group were not treated with cooling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①MAP, ICP, rectal temperature, CCP; Indexes of cerebral oxygenation detected with Neurotrend-typed multiparameter monitoring system; ②Results of blood gases analysis in the moderate hypothermia group. RESULTS: All the 20 pigs were involved in the analysis of results.①MAP, ICP, rectal temperature, CCP and indexes of cerebral oxygenation: In the moderate hypothermia group, the ICP after cooling was obviously lower than that before cooling [(3.31±1.19), (5.33±0.95) kPa, P ＜ 0.05], CCP was higher, brain tissue PCO2 [(12.03±1.73), (10.59±2.01) kPa, P ＜ 0.05], and brain tissue Ph value was higher [(7.03±1.63), (9.40±1.30) kPa, P ＜ 0.05], whereas the brain temperature was decreased as compared with that before cooling [(34.9±0.3), (37.2±0.2) ℃, P ＜ 0.05]. ②Results of blood gases analysis in the moderate hypothermia group: There were no significant differences in the parameters of peripheral arterial blood gases analysis before and after cooling in the moderate hypothermia group (P ＞ 0.05) CONCLUSION: Moderate hypothermia will not impair the cerebral oxygenation, and it can reduce brain tissue CO2 and decrease brain tissue acidosis.