Canine cerebral cortical blood flow and vascular resistance post cardiac arrest

seven dogs were anesthetized and instrumented for determination of central venous pressure (CVP), arterial pressure, intracranial pressure (ICP), left atrial pressure (LAP), and frontal cerebral cortical blood flow by the thermal method. A catheter was introduced into the venous return of the cerebral confluence to allow determination of cerebral A-V oxygen saturation differences. The animals were placed on cardiac bypass using a circuit from the right atrium to the pulmonary artery, and a second circuit from the left ventricular apex to the left femoral artery. A heat exchanger was used to maintain a constant blood temperature of 37 C in the output of the left-side bypass circuit. All animals were heparinized during bypass. Ventricular fibrillation was induced after completion of the bypass surgery. Two dogs served as controls for stability of the measured parameters on prolonged bypass. Pre-arrest determinations of hemoglobin, cerebral cortical blood flow, and cerebral A-V oxygen saturation differences were taken. Full circulatory arrest was carried out for 20 minutes in 5 dogs by shutting off the cardiac bypass. Resuscitation was achieved by resumption of bypass perfusion. Acid-base balance was corrected and pre-arrest perfusion pressures were achieved and maintained for 90 minutes. All pressure parameters were monitored continuously. Pre-arrest determinations were repeated at 20, 40, 60, and 90 minutes post resuscitation. A 50% reduction in cerebral cortical blood flow 20 minutes post resuscitation progressed to near zero flow 90 minutes post resuscitation. The changes in net cerebral perfusion pressure produced by the slowly rising intracranial pressure do not account for this flow reduction. Calculation of cerebral vascular resistance reveals a ten-fold increase in resistance post-arrest and -resuscitation.