[Experimental study on reversibility of cerebral ischemia--residual blood flow and duration of ischemia]

This experimental study was designed to estimate the flow thresholds and the time thresholds for reversibility of cerebral ischemia. We used a "canine model of completely ischemic brain regulated with a perfusion method", in which the cerebral blood flow (CBF) could be controlled. The residual blood flow was reduced to 10%, 20%, 30% or 40% of normal CBF, and the recirculation was started after 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours of ischemia. CBF was measured by a laser doppler flow meter. EEG and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) was monitored and used as a parameter expressing the brain function. In the 10% and 20% ischemia group, functional recovery could not be obtained even if reperfusion was started at 1 hour after the onset of ischemia. On the other hand, in the 30% ischemia group, nearly complete recovery of EEG and SEP could be seen when reperfusion was done at 1 hour from the onset of ischemia. But recirculation after 2 hours of ischemia did not lead to significant functional recovery. In the 40% ischemia group, reperfusion within 3 hours of ischemia allowed full recovery of ischemic brain. On the contrary, reperfusion after 4 hours of ischemia showed a gradual deterioration of EEG and SEP. Accordingly, it was clearly demonstrated that the reversibility of ischemic brain was critically correlated to severity and duration of cerebral ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)