UT Southwestern Medical Center Investigating Hypothermic Technique in Treating Pediatric Head Injuries

DALLAS – Oct. 3, 2007 – UT Southwestern Medical Center has been selected to take part in an $11.5 million multicenter clinical trial that is examining the effectiveness of induced hypothermia as a therapy for brain swelling in children who have suffered severe traumatic brain injuries. The 12 centers that are participating in the trial are expected to enroll a total of 340 children up to age 16 in the five-year trial, which is being funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a component of the National Institutes of Health. Children’s Medical Center Dallas, which has a Level I pediatric trauma center, will serve as the local coordinating site. The study is being led by Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.