Studies of carotid blood flow in unilateral occlusion.

Abstract

Since 1954, 2 there has been continued and increasing interest in surgery of the carotid artery. Therefore, a recognition of the hemodynamic effects that accompany changes of position and systemic arterial pressure in the presence of unilateral carotid artery occlusion has direct clinical application. In order to evaluate these effects, the carotid arterial and jugular venous flows were investigated in animals with unilateral carotid occlusion during changes of position, induced hypertension, neurogenic hypotension, hemorrhagic shock, and finally, correction of a hypotensive state. Methods All studies were performed on adult mongrel dogs anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital sodium and maintained in the supine position. The internal carotid artery was exposed through a longitudinal cervical incision, and a polyethylene catheter having an internal diameter of 0.046 in. was inserted in a craniad direction and secured with a ligature. On the cannulated side of the common carotid and external carotid arteries were ligated to