Toward Understanding Cerebral Blood Flow during Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Implications for the Central Nervous System

Factors and Their Influence on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow during Nonpulsatile Cardiopulmonary Bypass. By Govier AV, Reves JG, McKay RD, Karp RB, Zorn GL, Morawetz RB, Smith LR, Adams M, and Freeman AM. Ann Thorac Surg. 1984; 38:609-13. Reprinted with permission.In this study, we examined the relationship of regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) to mean arterial pressure, systemic blood flow, partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), nasopharyngeal temperature, and hemoglobin during hypothermic nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Regional CBF was determined by clearance of xenon 133 in 67 patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting procedures. There was a significant decrease in regional CBF (55% decrease) during CPB, with nasopharyngeal temperature and PaCO2 being the only two significant factors (p < 0.05). In a subgroup of 10 patients, variation of pump flow between 1.0 and 2.0 L/min/m2 did not significantly affect regional CBF. We conclude that cerebral autoregulation is retained during hypothermic CPB. Under the usual conditions of CPB, variations in flow and pressure are not associated with important physiologic or detrimental clinical effects.