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Biomedical subjects

D S Prough

Publications and source records attributed to D S Prough.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Regional cerebrovascular responses to progressive hypotension after traumatic brain injury in cats.

We investigated the effects of hypotension on cerebral blood flow (CBF) after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in cats. Isoflurane-anesthetized cats were prepared for TBI and for microsphere measurements of total (T) and regional (r) CBF. Four groups were studied: sham injury (group I, n = 6); TBI (group II, n = 6); isoflurane anesthesia, no TBI or hypotension (group III, n = 4); and isoflurane and TBI, no hypotension (group IV, n = 8). After TBI or sham trauma, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was reduced to 80, 60, and 40 mmHg by hemorrhage. Group I TCBF did not change significantly from baseline until MAP reached 40 mmHg, but rCBF was more dependent on MAP in anterior hemispheric than in brain stem regions. Group II TCBF was significantly lower than baseline, and group I TCBF at all levels of hypotension and autoregulation was impaired at higher MAP levels in anterior than in posterior brain regions. Groups III and IV indicated that decreases in TCBF were not due to duration of the preparation or to TBI in the absence of hemorrhagic hypotension. We conclude that global and regional autoregulation are absent in response to hemorrhagic hypotension after TBI.

Anesthesia

Reduced cerebral blood flow, oxygen delivery, and electroencephalographic activity after traumatic brain injury and mild hemorrhage in cats.

The authors investigated the effects of transient, mild hemorrhagic hypotension after fluid-percussion traumatic brain injury on intracranial pressure, cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral oxygen delivery (CBF x arterial O2 content), and electroencephalographic (EEG) activity. Adult mongrel cats were anesthetized with 1.6% isoflurane in N2O:O2 (70:30) and prepared for trauma and for radioactive microsphere CBF measurement. Isoflurane concentration was decreased to 0.8%, and the cats were randomly assigned to one of four control groups or to an experimental group. Animals in the four control groups underwent either mild hemorrhage (18 ml.kg-1) immediately followed by resuscitation with equal volumes of 10% Hetastarch (eight cats), mild hemorrhage followed by replacement of shed blood (six cats), isovolemic hemodilution with 18 ml.kg-1 of Hetastarch (six cats), or moderate (2.2 atm) trauma alone (eight cats). The experimental group received a combination of trauma and mild hemorrhage followed by resuscitation with Hetastarch (eight cats). Mild hemorrhage produced no significant changes in CBF, renal blood flow, or cardiac output. Following resuscitation from mild hemorrhage, mean arterial blood pressure, cardiac output, renal blood flow, and CBF were not significantly different from baseline; cardiac output and renal blood flow did not differ significantly from baseline 2 hours after Hetastarch resuscitation. Neither hemorrhage nor trauma alone produced significant decreases in CBF or in EEG activity, but trauma followed by hemorrhage and resuscitation produced significant (p less than 0.01) decreases in CBF, cerebral oxygen delivery, and EEG score. These data demonstrate that, following traumatic brain injury, even mild hemorrhagic hypotension is associated with significant deficits in cerebral oxygen availability and neurological function.

Animals

Cerebrovascular and cerebral metabolic effects of alterations in perfusion flow rate during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in man.

Recent experimental and clinical investigations provide conflicting evidence regarding the effects of changes in the systemic flow rate from the pump oxygenator on cerebral blood flow and the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption. However, the results of existing clinical studies are difficult to interpret because of the confounding effects of differences in management of arterial carbon dioxide tension and use of anesthetic and vasoactive agents during cardiopulmonary bypass. To clarify the relationship among perfusion flow rate, cerebral blood flow, and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption in man during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, we varied perfusion flow rate in random order to either 1.75 or 2.25 L.min-1.m-2 and studied cerebral blood flow (measured by clearance of xenon 133) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (estimated as the product of cerebral blood flow and the cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference) in patients managed with both the alpha-stat (group 1) and the pH-stat (group 2) methods of pH and arterial carbon dioxide tension adjustment. We measured the cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference using radial arterial and jugular venous bulb blood samples. In each patient other variables known to exert effects on cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption, including temperature, arterial carbon dioxide tension, arterial oxygen tension, mean arterial pressure, and hematocrit, were maintained constant between measurements. In both groups, mean arterial pressure at both pump flow rates was similar because of spontaneous reciprocal alterations in systemic vascular resistance, that is, as perfusion flow rate declined, systemic vascular resistance increased; as perfusion flow rate increased, systemic vascular resistance declined. Under these tightly controlled conditions, pump flow variation per se exerted no effect on cerebral blood flow or cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption in either group.

Blood Flow Velocity

Cerebral perfusion during canine hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass: effect of arterial carbon dioxide tension.

Cerebral blood flow (radioactive microspheres), intracranial pressure (subdural bolt), and retinal histopathology were examined in 20 dogs undergoing 150 minutes of hypothermic (28 degrees C) cardiopulmonary bypass to compare alpha-stat (arterial carbon dioxide tension, 40 +/- 1 mm Hg; n = 10) and pH-stat (arterial carbon dioxide tension, 61 +/- 1 mm Hg; n = 10) techniques of arterial carbon dioxide tension management. Pump flow (80 mL.kg-1.min-1), mean aortic pressure (78 +/- 2 mm Hg), and hemoglobin level (87 +/- 3 g/L [8.7 +/- 0.3 g/dL]) were maintained constant. During bypass, intracranial pressure progressively increased in the alpha-stat group from 6.0 +/- 1.0 to 13.9 +/- 1.8 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) and in the pH-stat group from 7.7 +/- 1.1 to 14.7 +/- 1.4 mm Hg (p less than 0.05), although there was no evidence of loss of intracranial compliance or intracranial edema formation as assessed by brain water content. With cooling, cerebral blood flow decreased by 56% to 62% in the alpha-stat group (p less than 0.05) and by 48% to 56% in the pH-stat group (p less than 0.05). However, 30 minutes after rewarming to 37 degrees C, cerebral blood flow in both groups failed to increase and remained significantly depressed compared with baseline values. Both groups showed similar amounts of ischemic retinal damage, with degeneration of bipolar cells found in the inner nuclear layer in 67% of animals. We conclude that, independent of the arterial carbon dioxide tension management technique, (1) cerebral perfusion decreased comparably during prolonged hypothermic bypass, (2) intracranial pressure increases progressively, (3) ischemic damage to retinal cells occurs despite maintenance of aortic pressure and flow, and (4) a significant reduction in cerebral perfusion persists after rewarming.

Animals

Sodium nitroprusside infusion does not dilate cerebral resistance vessels during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

This study determined whether sodium nitroprusside (SNP) changes cerebral vascular resistance during stable, hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured using Xenon clearance in 39 patients anesthetized with fentanyl. In 25 patients (group 1), CBF was measured before and during infusion of SNP at a rate sufficient to reduce mean arterial pressure (MAP) approximately 20%. In 14 other patients (group 2), CBF was measured before and during simultaneous infusion of SNP and phenylephrine; SNP was continued at a rate that had reduced MAP approximately 20% while phenylephrine was added in a dose sufficient to restore MAP to preinfusion levels. Patients within each group were randomized to maintenance of PaCO2 approximately 40 mmHg (groups 1a and 2a), uncorrected for body temperature, or to maintenance of PaCO2 approximately 50 mmHg (groups 1b and 2b). The following variables were maintained within a narrow range: nasopharyngeal temperature (26-29 degrees C), pump oxygenator flow (1.7-2.5 l.min-1.m-2), PaO2 (150-300 mmHg), and Hct (22-28 vol%). In each patient, controlled variables varied no more than +/- 5% between measurements. In group 1a (PaCO2 approximately 40 mmHg), MAP was 86 +/- 9 mmHg (mean +/- SD) before and 65 +/- 8 mmHg during SNP infusion (P less than 0.0001). CBF was 12 +/- 3 ml.100g-1.min-1 before and 10 +/- 2 ml.100(-1).min-1 during SNP infusion (P less than 0.01). In group 1b (PaCO2 approximately 55 mmHg), MAP was 86 +/- 11 mmHg before and 66 +/- 13 mmHg during SNP infusion (P less than 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia

Regional cerebral blood flow following resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock with hypertonic saline. Influence of a subdural mass.

After severe hemorrhage, hypertonic saline restores systemic hemodynamics and decreases intracranial pressure (ICP), but its effects on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) when used for resuscitation of experimental animals with combined shock and intracranial hypertension have not been reported. We compared rCBF changes (by radiolabeled microsphere technique) after resuscitation from hemorrhage with either 0.8 or 7.2% saline in animals with and without a right hemispheric subdural mass. We studied 24 mongrel dogs anesthetized with 0.5% halothane and 60% nitrous oxide. In group 1 (n = 12), hemorrhage reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP) to 45 mmHg for 30 min. In group 2 (n = 12), ICP was increased and maintained constant at 15 mmHg, whereas hemorrhage reduced MAP to 55 mmHg for 30 min (cerebral perfusion pressure [CPP] approximately 40 mmHg in each group). After the 30-min shock period, 6 animals in each group received one of two randomly assigned resuscitation fluids over a 5-min interval: 1) 7.2% hypertonic saline (HS; sodium 1,232 mEq.l-1, volume 6.0 ml.kg-1); or 2) 0.8% isotonic saline (SAL; sodium 137 mEq.l-1, volume 54 ml.kg-1). Once fluid resuscitation began, ICP was permitted to vary independently in both groups. Data were collected at baseline (before subdural balloon inflation in group 2), midway through the shock interval (T15), immediately after fluid infusion (T35), and 60 and 90 min later (T95, T155). In groups 1 and 2, ICP was significantly less in animals resuscitated with HS compared to those receiving SAL (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Small-volume resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock in dogs: effects on systemic hemodynamics and systemic blood flow.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: This study compared canine systemic hemodynamics and organ blood flow (radioactive microsphere technique) after resuscitation with 0.8% saline (Na+ 137 mEq/L), 7.2% hypertonic saline (Na+ 1233 mEq/L), 20% hydroxyethyl starch in 0.8% saline, or 20% hydroxyethyl starch in 7.2% saline, each in a volume approximating 15% of shed blood volume. Twenty-four endotracheally intubated mongrel dogs (18 to 24 kg) underwent a 30-min period of hemorrhagic shock, from time 0 to 30 min into the shock period, followed by fluid resuscitation. Data were collected at baseline, 15 min into the shock period, immediately after fluid infusion, 5 min after the beginning of resuscitation, and at 60-min intervals for 2 hr, (65 min after the beginning of resuscitation, and 125 min after the beginning of resuscitation). The animals received one of four randomly assigned iv resuscitation fluids: saline (54 mL/kg), hypertonic saline (6.0 mL/kg), hydroxyethel starch (6.0 mL/kg) or hypertonic saline/hydroxyethyl starch (6.0 mL/kg). RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure increased in all groups after resuscitation. Cardiac output increased with resuscitation in all groups, exceeding baseline in the saline and hypertonic saline/hydroxyethyl starch groups (p less than .05 compared with hypertonic saline or hydroxyethyl starch). Sixty-five minutes after the beginning of resuscitation, cardiac output was significantly (p less than .05) greater in either of the two colloid-containing groups than in the hypertonic saline group. After resuscitation, hypertonic saline and hydroxyethyl starch produced minimal improvements in hepatic arterial flow, hypertonic saline/hydroxyethyl starch increased hepatic arterial flow to near baseline levels, and saline markedly increased hepatic arterial flow to levels exceeding baseline (p less than .05, saline vs. hydroxyethyl starch). One hundred twenty-five minutes after the beginning of resuscitation, hepatic arterial flow had decreased in all groups; hepatic arterial flow in the hypertonic saline group had decreased to levels comparable with those during shock. Myocardial, renal, and brain blood flow were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Small-volume resuscitation with the combination of hypertonic saline/hydroxyethyl starch is comparable with much larger volumes of 0.8% saline, and is equal to hypertonic saline or hydroxyethyl starch in the ability to restore and sustain BP and improve organ blood flow after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock.

Animals

Hemorrhage and intracranial hypertension in combination increase cerebral production of thromboxane A2.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: To determine the effects of reduced cerebral perfusion pressures produced by hemorrhage alone or in combination with intracranial hypertension on thromboxane A2 (TxA2) production, we undertook a randomized study in 38 anesthetized, mongrel dogs. Animals were subjected to 30 mins of hemorrhagic shock with normal (group 1) or increased (group 2) intracranial pressure (ICP). Group 1 animals (n = 22) were hemorrhaged to reduce cerebral perfusion pressure to 40 mm Hg for 30 mins. In group 2 (n = 16), cerebral perfusion pressure was reduced by the combination of less severe hypotension and intracranial hypertension (20 mm Hg). Cerebral and systemic hemodynamic measurements were recorded, including cerebral blood flow (sagittal sinus outflow method); ICP; cerebral perfusion pressure; and arterial and cerebral venous concentrations of TxB2 (double-antibody radioimmunoassay technique), the major metabolite of TxA2. Data were obtained at baseline and at the beginning and end of the 30-min shock period. RESULTS: Hemorrhagic shock significantly (p less than .05) decreased cerebral blood flow in both groups. At the beginning of the shock period, cerebral blood flow was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p less than .05) and venous-arterial differences in TxB2 increased significantly (p less than .05) in group 2, but not in group 1. At the end of the 30-min shock period, venous-arterial levels of TxB2 remained significantly (p less than .05) higher in group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Increased cerebral production of TxA2 during hypotension accompanied by intracranial hypertension may contribute to the severity of neural damage produced by the combination of head trauma and shock.

Animals

Cerebral blood flow decreases with time whereas cerebral oxygen consumption remains stable during hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass in humans.

Recent investigations demonstrate that cerebral blood flow (CBF) progressively declines during hypothermic, nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). If CBF declines because of brain cooling, the cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) should decline in parallel with the reduction in CBF. Therefore we studied the response of CBF, the cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference (A-VDcereO2) and CMRO2 as a function of the duration of CPB in humans. To do this, we compared the cerebrovascular response to changes in the PaCO2. Because sequential CBF measurements using xenon 133 (133Xe) clearance must be separated by 15-25 min, we hypothesized that a time-dependent decline in CBF would accentuate the CBF reduction caused by a decrease in PaCO2, but would blunt the CBF increase associated with a rise in PaCO2. We measured CBF in 25 patients and calculated the cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content difference using radial arterial and jugular venous bulb blood samples. Patients were randomly assigned to management within either a lower (32-48 mm Hg) or higher (50-71 mm Hg) range of PaCO2 uncorrected for temperature. Each patient underwent two randomly ordered sets of measurements, one at a lower PaCO2 and the other at a higher PaCO2 within the respective ranges. Cerebrovascular responsiveness to changes in PaCO2 was calculated as specific reactivity (SR), the change in CBF divided by the change in PaCO2, expressed in mL.100 g-1.min-1.mm Hg-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance

Preoperative and intraoperative predictors of inotropic support and long-term outcome in patients having coronary artery bypass grafting.

The prognostic value of preoperative symptoms, preoperative left ventricular function, and intraoperative factors as related to postoperative outcome in coronary artery bypass grafting is unclear. This study was performed to identify risk factors that could be used as markers to predict immediate and long-term outcome, knowledge of which might allow physicians to modify these factors to decrease the likelihood of an adverse outcome. We retrospectively evaluated preoperative factors (including age, sex, New York Heart Association [NYHA] classification of symptoms, ejection fraction [EF], wall motion abnormalities, baseline left ventricular end-diastolic pressure [LVEDP], postradiographic contrast injection LVEDP, change in LVEDP with contrast injection, cardiac enlargement, and collateral vessels) and intraoperative factors (duration of bypass and aortic cross-clamp time) in 128 patients. The need for inotropic drug support was used as a marker of immediate outcome. A 36-mo follow-up used death and the postoperative NYHA classification of symptoms as markers of long-term outcome. The various factors associated with the use of inotropes and immediate outcome were analyzed by logistic regression. The factors related to inotrope use (and presumed adverse short-term outcome) in order of decreasing significance were lower EF, older age, cardiac enlargement, female sex, and higher baseline and postcontrast LVEDP. Patients with EF greater than or equal to 55%, but also having wall motion abnormalities and LVEDP change greater than or equal to 10 mm Hg, and all patients with EF less than 55% were more likely to require inotropic drug stimulation after cardiopulmonary bypass. Neither the change in LVEDP nor the presence of wall motion abnormalities independently predicted the need for postoperative inotropic support.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors

Hypertonic/hyperoncotic fluid resuscitation after hemorrhagic shock in dogs.

We compared canine systemic and cerebral hemodynamics after resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock with 4 mL/kg (a volume approximating 12% of shed blood volume) of 7.2% saline (HS; 1233 mEq/L sodium), 20% hydroxyethyl starch (HES) in 0.8% saline, or a combination fluid consisting of 20% hydroxyethyl starch in 7.2% saline (HS/HES). Eighteen endotracheally intubated mongrel dogs (18-24 kg) were ventilated to maintain normocarbia with 0.5% halothane in nitrous oxide and oxygen (60:40). After a 30-min period of hemorrhagic shock (mean arterial blood pressure = 40 mm Hg), extending from time T0 to T30, animals received one of three randomly assigned intravenous resuscitation fluids: HS, HES, or HS/HES. Data were collected at baseline, at the beginning and end of the shock period (T0 and T30), immediately after fluid infusion (T35), and at 60-min intervals for 2 h (T95, T155). After resuscitation, mean arterial blood pressure and cardiac output increased similarly in all groups, but failed to return to baseline. Intracranial pressure decreased during shock and increased slightly, immediately after resuscitation in all groups. During shock, cerebral blood flow (cerebral venous outflow method) declined in all groups. After resuscitation, cerebral blood flow increased, exceeding baseline in the HS and HS/HES groups but remaining low in the HES group (P less than 0.05 HS vs HES at T35). We conclude that small-volume resuscitation (4 mL/kg) with HS, HS/HES, or HES does not effectively restore or sustain systemic hemodynamics in hemorrhaged dogs. In dogs without intracranial pathology, the effects on cerebral hemodynamics are also comparable, except for transiently greater cerebral blood flow in the HS group in comparison with the HES group.

Animals

Cerebral hemodynamic effects of fluid resuscitation in the presence of an experimental intracranial mass.

We addressed the impact on intracranial pressure (ICP) of posthemorrhage fluid resuscitation with a protocol in which additional fluid was infused to maintain a stable cardiac output after an initial bolus of fluid was infused. Anesthetized, mechanically ventilated mongrel dogs (n = 27) underwent a 30-minute interval of hemorrhagic shock (mean arterial pressure = 55 mm Hg) during which inflation of a subdural balloon maintained ICP at 15 mm Hg. After shock, animals were resuscitated with one of four randomly assigned fluids: (1) slightly hypotonic crystalloid (Na+, 125 mEq.L-1; designated Na-125); (2) hypertonic crystalloid (Na+, 250 mEq.L-1; designated Na-250); (3) slightly hypotonic crystalloid plus 10% pentastarch (Na-125P); or (4) hypertonic crystalloid plus 10% pentastarch (Na-250P). Supplemental fluid was administered as needed to maintain cardiac output comparable to baseline values. ICP increased progressively in all fluid groups during resuscitation. Cerebral blood flow, measured by the cerebral venous outflow method, increased immediately after resuscitation and then declined steadily over time in all groups. Fluids containing pentastarch maintained hemodynamic stability with minimal supplementation throughout most of the postresuscitation period, compared with crystalloid alone, which required substantial additional volume. If decreased intracranial compliance and hemorrhage are combined, ongoing resuscitation is associated with significantly increased ICP and significantly decreased cerebral blood flow, independent of the tonicity and oncotic pressure of the infused fluid.

Animals

Neuropsychiatric complications following cardiac surgery.

Few patients are neurologically devastated following cardiac surgery. However, a substantial number of patients suffer sufficient deterioration in neurologic and neuropsychologic function that the quality of their recovery is limited. Intensive research is necessary to determine what surgical and pharmacologic techniques are suitable for use in this large at-risk population.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures

Brain microemboli during cardiac surgery or aortography.

We have observed many focal dilatations or very small aneurysms in terminal arterioles and capillaries of 4 of 5 patients and 6 dogs who had recently undergone cardiopulmonary bypass. A smaller number of sausagelike dilatations distended medium-sized arterioles. Two other patients had a small number of the same microvascular changes following proximal aortography. Thirty-four patients and 6 dogs not undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass had none. (A 35th patient who had not undergone cardiopulmonary bypass or aortography showed a small number of dilatations; mediastinal air was a suggested source.) Some of the dilatations exhibited various forms of birefringence. Because most of the dilatations appear empty, we speculate that they are the sites of gas bubbles or fat emboli that have been removed by the solvents used in processing. These microvascular events, occurring only in conjunction with major arterial interventions, may be the anatomical correlate of the neurological deficits or moderate to severe intellectual dysfunction seen in at least 24% of patients after cardiac surgical procedures assisted by cardiopulmonary bypass.

Adult

Labetalol for the control of elevated blood pressure following coronary artery bypass grafting.

In a multicenter study, the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) labetalol for the control of elevated blood pressure were studied in the intensive care unit (ICU) in 65 patients within 4 hours following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Patients with pre-existing ventricular dysfunction, bradycardia, bronchospastic disease, or postoperative complications were excluded. All patients were monitored with a thermodilution pulmonary artery catheter. Entry criteria were a systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than 90 mm Hg for at least five minutes. Intravenous labetalol was loaded incrementally (5, 10, 20, and 40 mg at 10-minute intervals) to a maximum cumulative dose of 75 mg, until either SBP decreased 10% or DBP decreased 10% and was less than 90 mm Hg. Responders were entered into a 6-hour maintenance period, and received 5 to 40 mg of IV labetalol every 10 minutes as needed for blood pressure control. Hemodynamic data and temperature were recorded at baseline, just before each dose of labetalol during the loading period, and at the end of the maintenance period. Alternative therapy was given in the case of nonresponse or adverse events. Intravenous labetalol successfully controlled post-CABG hypertension in 55 of 65 patients (85%); of these, 46 responded to 35 mg or less. Although 28 patients required no further labetalol in the maintenance period, in the others dosage varied from 5 to 400 mg. Reductions in SBP and DBP were associated with moderate reductions in pulse pressure (SBP-DBP) and heart rate (HR). Cardiac index decreased by 18.5%, with a 12.5% decrease in stroke index and 8.1% decrease in HR. Systemic vascular resistance did not increase significantly. Four patients (6%) developed hypotension related to IV labetalol. There was one death due to perioperative myocardial infarction, which was unrelated to labetalol use. The mechanism of action of IV labetalol in controlling hypertension after CABG surgery seems to be moderate negative inotropy and chronotropy. Its alpha-blocking effects seem to be important in preventing reflex vasoconstriction. This is directly opposite to the primary vasodilator effect found when IV labetalol is used to control nonsurgical hypertension. Because of these actions, labetalol should be avoided or used with caution in patients with preoperative and postoperative cardiac dysfunction. In patients with normal left ventricular function, IV labetalol appears to be a safe, effective agent in controlling post-CABG hypertension, with the added potential benefit of enhanced myocardial oxygen balance.

Analysis of Variance

Traumatic brain injury creates biphasic systemic hemodynamic and organ blood flow responses in rats.

Traumatic brain injury affects systemic circulation as well as directly damages the brain. The present study examined the effects of fluid percussion brain injury on systemic hemodynamics and organ arterial blood flow in rats. Rats were prepared for fluid percussion injury under anesthesia. Twenty-four hours later, rats were anesthetized (1.0% halothane in N2O:O2) and prepared for radioactive microsphere measurement of cardiac output and organ blood flow. After baseline blood flow and physiological measurements were established, the rats were injured (2.47 +/- 0.02 atm, n = 17) or not injured (n = 20). Additional blood flow determinations were made at two of the following four time (T) points: 5, 15, 30, and 60 min after the injury or sham injury. Fluid percussion brain injury produced an immediate systemic hypertension followed by a hypotension and low cardiac output. Organ blood flows remained constant or increased for 30 min and then declined. Decreased blood flow was most pronounced in the kidneys and the spleen and was less severe in the liver. The reduced cardiac output was redistributed to favor blood flow through the heart and pancreas. These data suggest that traumatic brain injury creates a hyperdynamic period followed by a hypodynamic state with a heterogeneous hypoperfusion among organs.

Animals

Long-term effects of nimodipine on pial microvasculature and systemic circulation in conscious rats.

The chronic cranial window preparation allows repeated measurements of the same pial vessels in unanesthetized rats for several weeks and correlation with 24-h monitoring of hemodynamic variables. Nimodipine (20 mg) or placebo was given via two subcutaneous pellets. Large arterioles dilated 26 and 16%, at hour 1 and days 6-13, respectively (P less than 0.02). There was an increase in number of small arterioles throughout the whole observation period with the maximal increment of 47% (P less than 0.05) at days 6-13. Maximal vasodilation with 10% CO2 indicated that the increase in number of small arterioles after administering nimodipine was not caused by the opening of previously closed vessels. The total length of small arterioles and venules increased 47 and 23% at days 6-13, respectively (P less than 0.001). These increases seem to be caused by the increases in the numbers of vessels, because the average length of the small vessels did not appear to change. This suggests that nimodipine reduces cerebral vascular resistance by causing cerebral microvessel neovascularization. Our data demonstrate that the administration of nimodipine (20 mg) is potent in dilating pial arterioles in the short-term without affecting systemic arterial pressure, and that its long-term effect results in new vessel growth.

Administration, Inhalation