Individualized perfusion targets in hypoxic ischemic brain injury after cardiac arrest

Secondary injury is a major determinant of outcome in hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIBI) after cardiac arrest and may be mitigated by optimizing cerebral oxygen delivery (CDO₂). CDO₂ is determined by cerebral blood flow (CBF), which is dependent upon mean arterial pressure (MAP). In health, CBF remains constant over the MAP range through cerebral autoregulation. In HIBI, the zone of intact cerebral autoregulation is narrowed and varies for each patient. Maintaining MAP within the intact autoregulation zone may mitigate ischemia, hyperemia and secondary injury. The optimal MAP in individual patients can be determined using real time autoregulation monitoring techniques.