Pressure-volume index as a function of cerebral perfusion pressure. Part 2: The effects of low cerebral perfusion pressure and autoregulation.

Abstract

The pressure-volume index (PVI) was measured in six adult cats while cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was reduced from normal levels to below the autoregulatory range by a continuous infusion of adenosine triphosphate. Anesthesia was induced with methohexital and maintained with an N2O:O2 (70%:30%) mixture. Body temperature, hematocrit, and PaCO2 were held constant throughout each experiment. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was measured by the hydrogen clearance method. At CPP levels over 50 mm Hg, CBF remained relatively constant despite changes in CPP. Within this range, the PVI varied directly with CPP (PVI = 0.24 ml + 0.0013 mm Hg CPP). Below the autoregulatory range, CBF fell progressively with further decreases in CPP; in this range, PVI was found to increase as CPP fell (PVI = 0.84 ml - 0.0071 mm Hg CPP). These results indicate that the PVI is a complex function of CPP, varying directly with CPP within the autoregulatory range and indirectly with CPP below the autoregulatory range.