An esophageal heat transfer device (200, 300) comprising: a plurality of lumens (224, 226, 320, 322, 406, 408, 510, 512), a heat transfer medium supply tube lumen (224, 320, 406, 510) and a heat transfer medium return tube lumen (226, 322, 408, 512), configured to provide a fluid path for flow of a heat transfer medium; a proximal end (204, 302) including an input port (208, 308, 414) and an output port (210, 314, 416); a distal end (202, 306) configured for insertion into an esophagus of a patient; characterized in that the esophageal heat transfer device further comprises: at least one semi-rigid tube (206, 304) extending between the proximal end (204, 302) and the distal end (202, 306), the at least one semi-rigid tube (206, 304) defining the heat transfer medium supply tube lumen (224, 320, 406, 510) and the heat transfer medium return tube lumen (226, 322, 408, 512); a heat transfer region having a diameter of about 1.0 to about 2.0 centimeters and configured for contacting esophageal epithelium of the patient; and one or more gastric tubes (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602), wherein each of the one or more gastric tubes has a distal end configured to extend into a stomach of the patient, wherein each of the one or more gastric tubes (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602) includes ports that serve as passageways from the patient's stomach to a gastric tube lumen (318, 514, 516, 606) of the gastric tube (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602); wherein the esophageal heat transfer device (200, 300) is a non balloon-type esophageal heat transfer device. a plurality of lumens (224, 226, 320, 322, 406, 408, 510, 512), a heat transfer medium supply tube lumen (224, 320, 406, 510) and a heat transfer medium return tube lumen (226, 322, 408, 512), configured to provide a fluid path for flow of a heat transfer medium; a proximal end (204, 302) including an input port (208, 308, 414) and an output port (210, 314, 416); a distal end (202, 306) configured for insertion into an esophagus of a patient; characterized in that the esophageal heat transfer device further comprises: at least one semi-rigid tube (206, 304) extending between the proximal end (204, 302) and the distal end (202, 306), the at least one semi-rigid tube (206, 304) defining the heat transfer medium supply tube lumen (224, 320, 406, 510) and the heat transfer medium return tube lumen (226, 322, 408, 512); a heat transfer region having a diameter of about 1.0 to about 2.0 centimeters and configured for contacting esophageal epithelium of the patient; and one or more gastric tubes (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602), wherein each of the one or more gastric tubes has a distal end configured to extend into a stomach of the patient, wherein each of the one or more gastric tubes (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602) includes ports that serve as passageways from the patient's stomach to a gastric tube lumen (318, 514, 516, 606) of the gastric tube (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602); wherein the esophageal heat transfer device (200, 300) is a non balloon-type esophageal heat transfer device. at least one semi-rigid tube (206, 304) extending between the proximal end (204, 302) and the distal end (202, 306), the at least one semi-rigid tube (206, 304) defining the heat transfer medium supply tube lumen (224, 320, 406, 510) and the heat transfer medium return tube lumen (226, 322, 408, 512); a heat transfer region having a diameter of about 1.0 to about 2.0 centimeters and configured for contacting esophageal epithelium of the patient; and one or more gastric tubes (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602), wherein each of the one or more gastric tubes has a distal end configured to extend into a stomach of the patient, wherein each of the one or more gastric tubes (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602) includes ports that serve as passageways from the patient's stomach to a gastric tube lumen (318, 514, 516, 606) of the gastric tube (228, 316, 410, 412, 506, 508, 602); wherein the esophageal heat transfer device (200, 300) is a non balloon-type esophageal heat transfer device.