Effect of perfluorocarbons on brain oxygenation and ischemic damage in an acute subdural hematoma model in rats

This study was conducted to determine whether perfluorocarbons (PFCs) improve brain oxygenation and reduce ischemic brain damage in an acute subdural hematoma (SDH) model in rats.

Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated to four groups: (1) controls, acute SDH treated with saline and 30% O2; (2) 30-PFC group, acute SDH treated with PFC infusion in 30% O2; (3) 100-O2 group, acute SDH treated with 100% O2; and (4) 100-PFC group, acute SDH treated with PFC plus 100% O2. Ten minutes after the induction of acute SDH, a single dose of PFC was infused and 30% or 100% O2 was administered simultaneously. Four hours later, half of the rats were killed by perfusion for histological study to assess the extent of ischemic brain damage. The other half were used to measure brain tissue oxygen tension (PO2). The volume of ischemic brain damage was 162.4 +/- 7.6 mm3 in controls, 165.3 +/- 11.3 mm3 in the 30-PFC group, 153.4 +/- 17.3 mm3 in the 100-O2 group, and 95.9 +/- 12.8 mm3 in the 100-PFC group (41% reduction compared with controls, p = 0.002). Baseline brain tissue PO2 values were approximately 20 mm Hg, and after induction of acute SDH, PO2 rapidly decreased and remained at 1 to 2 mm Hg. Treatment with either PFC or 100% O2 improved brain tissue PO2, with final values of 5.14 and 7.02 mm Hg, respectively. Infusion of PFC with 100% O2 improved brain tissue PO2 the most, with a final value of 15.16 mm Hg.

Data from the current study demonstrated that PFC infusion along with 100% O2 can significantly improve brain oxygenation and reduce ischemic brain damage in acute SDH.