Effect of HHH-Therapy on Regional CBF after Severe Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Studied by Bedside Xenon-Enhanced CT

Management of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is difficult and still carries controversies. In this study, the effect of therapeutic hypervolemia, hemodilution, and hypertension (HHH-therapy) on cerebral blood flow (CBF) was assessed by xenon-enhanced computerized tomography (XeCT) hypothesizing an increase in CBF in poorly perfused regions.

Bedside XeCT measurements of regional CBF in mechanically ventilated SAH patients were routinely scheduled for day 0-3, 4-7, and 8-12. At clinical suspicion of DCI, patients received 5-day HHH-therapy. For inclusion, XeCT was required at 0-48 h before start of HHH (baseline) and during therapy. Data from corresponding time-windows were also collected for non-DCI patients.

Twenty patients who later developed DCI were included, and twenty-eight patients without DCI were identified for comparison. During HHH, there was a slight nonsignificant increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and a significant reduction in hematocrit. Median global cortical CBF for the DCI group increased from 29.5 (IQR 24.6-33.9) to 38.4 (IQR 27.0-41.2) ml/100 g/min (P = 0.001). There was a concomitant increase in regional CBF of the worst vascular territories, and the proportion of area with blood flow below 20 ml/100 g/min was significantly reduced. Non-DCI patients showed higher CBF at baseline, and no significant change over time.

HHH-therapy appeared to increase global and regional CBF in DCI patients. The increase in SBP was small, while the decrease in hematocrit was more pronounced, which may suggest that intravascular volume status and rheological effects are of importance. XeCT may be potentially helpful in managing poor-grade SAH patients.