[Effects of high-frequency ventilation on the intracranial pressure and cerebral elastance in dogs]

We have evaluated the effects of the high frequency "jet" ventilation (HFJV) in 12 healthy dogs, under normal intracranial pressure (ICP) as well as under progressive Intracranial Hypertension (ICH). With a normal ICP, no significant differences were found in the mean ICP regarding the intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV). However, during ICH the HFJV not only decreases the global cerebral elastance (CE), P/V curve with smaller slope, but also places the brain in an improved dynamic condition in the sense that, at an equal ICH level, the CE is lower, CE mean ICP relation having a significant difference (p less than 0.001).