Evaluation of Cerebral and Systemic Flow/Metabolism During Brain Hypothermia Therapy

Abstract

Summary. In this study we evaluated the clinical usefulness of jugular venous -arterial PC0 2 difference (JAPC0 2) as an indicator of cerebral blood flow and metabolism in five patients (male 3; female 2) with brain injury. In the neurointensive care unit under mechanical ventilation, JAPC0 2 , mixed venous -arterial PC0 2 difference (VAPC0 2), and jugular venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SjV02) were calculated. JAPC0 2 was maintained at approximately 10mmHg except during brain herniation. JAPC0 2 had an inverse linear relat ionship with SjV02' JAPC0 2 decreased to under 4 mmHg and SjV02increased to over 95mmHg during the brain herniation period in patients who died. JAPC0 2 was greater than VAPC0 2 except during the brain herniation period. JAPC0 2 was a useful monitor of cerebral blood flow and metabolism.