Influence of Anesthetic Agents on the Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Rabbits with a Focal Cerebral Lesion and General Hypoxia

Abstract

Secondary brain damage is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality in patients with severe head injury. Shock or hypoxia after trauma are the most important extracerebral factors, which affect outcome [4]. Patients with severe head injury often require anesthesia for diagnostic or surgical procedures. Anesthetic agents may either exert cerebroprotective effects by a decrease of brain metabolism or elevate the intracranial pressure by an increase of cerebral blood flow. We have analyzed the effect of various anesthetic agents on rCBF after a focal cerebral lesion combined with systemic hypoxia.