Pulsatile versus nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass. No difference in brain blood flow or metabolism at 27 degrees C.
BACKGROUND
It is unclear whether nonpulsatile perfusion adversely affects the brain. This study compared cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (CMRO2) betwen pulsatile and nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in rabbits at 27 degrees C.


METHODS
In experiment A, 24 anesthetized New Zealand white rabbits underwent pulsatile CPB at 27 degrees C, using alpha-stat acid-base management. Animals were randomized to three groups based upon the duration of the period of systolic ejection (100, 120, 140 ms) and were perfused for 20 min at each of three pulse rates (150, 200, 250 pulse/min), generating nine arterial pressure waveforms. Arterial pressure waveform, arterial and cerebral venous oxygen content, CBF (radiolabeled microspheres), and CMRO2 (Fick) were measured at the end of each 20-min period. In experiment B, 16 anesthetized rabbits were randomized to pulsatile (120-ms ejection period, 250 pulse/min) or nonpulsatile CPB at 27 degrees C. AFter 1 h, arterial pressure waveform, arterial and cerebral venous oxygen content, CBF and CMRO2 were measured.


RESULTS
In experiment A, CBF and CMRO2 were independent of ejection period and pulse rate. Thus, all nine waveforms were physiologically equivalent. In experiment B, CBF did not differ between pulsatile and nonpulsatile bypass, 30 +/- 4 versus 32 +/- 5 ml.100 g-1.min-1, respectively. CMRO2 did not differ between pulsatile and nonpulsatile bypass, 1.7 +/- 0.2 versus 1.6 +/- 0.2 ml.100 g-1.min-1, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
During CPB in rabbits at 27 degrees C, neither CBF nor CMRO2 is affected by flow character.
Department of Anesthesia, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
B J
BJ
Hindman
F
F
Dexter
K H
KH
Ryu
T
T
Smith
J
J
Cutkomp
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001831:Body Temperature; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000379:methods*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008863:Microspheres; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013599:Systole; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors