1. Summer Vacation Research Scholarship Lulu Liang

2. ANZIC-RC Traumatic Brain Injuries POLAR POLAR BEAR Renal Sub- study EPO ARISE Olivier’s Study Flail Chest Study Blood Transfusion

3. The Prophylactic hypOthermia trial to Lessen trAumatic bRain injury – Randomised Controlled Trial (POLAR-RCT)  To investigate whether prophylactic hypothermia has better neurological outcomes over standard management (normothermia) 6 months post TBI

4. Background Why is this being done?  Affects 1000 Australians every year  Health issues: o Disability and death  Economical issues  Societal issues  Previous studies o Lab and clinical trials show hypothermia to be neuroprotective o Previous methodological limitations o First-of-its-kind in Australia

5. Method 512 Participants Normothermia Hypothermia Maintained at 37±5°C Rapidly cooled to 33°C for 72 hours Gradually rewarmed End result: Neurological outcome at 6 months follow-up (GOSE)

6. Results/Discussion What I observed over a 5 week period:  15 patients were followed  Mortality and survival rates at ICU-discharge were similar  Challenges o Hypothermia: bleeding, infection, logistics with timing o Normothermia: infection  Is hypothermia beneficial in TBI?

7. Conclusion Cannot be drawn as study still in progress. However, the results may potentially change clinical practice on the current management of TBI in an ICU setting.

8. Reflections  Video