Autoregulation and the CO2 responsiveness of cerebral blood flow after cardiopulmonary bypass

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by 133Xe clearance to determine whether there were any residual effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on the CBF response to changes in arterial PCO2 or blood pressure in the early (3-8 hr) post-CPB period. During CPB, the nine patients studied were managed according to alpha-stat, temperature uncorrected, pH management. The mean +/- SD increase in CBF resulting from an increase in PaCO2 (1.35 +/- 0.5 ml.100 g-1.min-1.mmHg-1 PaCO2) was within the normal range, indicating appropriate CBF response to a change in PaCO2. There were no significant differences in CBF, being 25.7 ml.100 g-1.min-1 at a mean arterial blood pressure of 70 mmHg and 26.5 ml.100 g-1.min-1 at 110 mmHg, demonstrating intact cerebral autoregulation over this pressure range. We conclude that cerebral autoregulation and CO2 responsiveness are preserved in the immediate postoperative period after CPB using alpha-stat pH management.