[Vasoreactivity of cerebral infarct to barbiturates and other intravenous anesthetics]

The effect of a barbiturate, Sodium thiopental (Nesdonal), on the cerebral circulation in 13 patients with a cerebral ischemic attack is studied. Its action is compared to the action of other intravenous anesthetics (Alfatésine - Etomidate - diazanalgésie) used in neuro-anesthésia. The study is on a total of thirty patients. The regional cerebral blood flow (RCBF) is measured by the intra-carotid injection of Xe133. The anesthetics studied acted like vasoconstrictive agents on the healthy brain. They diminish the RCBF. At the leel of ischemic lesions the response is abolished, even inversed : the flow remains unchanged, even increases. It is the inverse steal syndrome. This action, comparable to the action of hypocapnia, has both a diagnostic and a prognostic value.