Demonstrating the potential role of a cerebral blood flow monitor during cardiac surgery with hypothermic circulatory arrest

Brain protection during open heart surgery in the neonate and infant remains inadequate. Effects of the excitatory neurotransmitter antagonists MK-801 and NBQX on recovery of brain cellular energy state and metabolic rates were evaluated in 34 4-week-old piglets (10 MK-801, 10 NBQX, 14 controls) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermic circulatory arrest at 15°C nasopharyngeal temperature for 1 h, as is used clinically for repair of congenital heart defects. MK-801 (dizocilpine) (0.75 mg/kg) or NBQX [2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo( F)quinoxaline] (25 mg/kg) was given intravenously before cardiopulmonary bypass. Equivalent doses were placed in the cardiopulmonary bypass prime plus continuous infusions after reperfusion (0.15 mg kg−1h−1 and 5 mg kg−1h−1). Changes in high-energy phosphate concentrations and pH were analyzed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 17 animals until 225 min after reperfusion. Cerebral blood flow determined by radioactive microspheres as well as cerebral oxygen and glucose consumption were studied in 17 other animals. Cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption were depressed relative to control by both MK-801 and NBQX at baseline. Recovery of phosphocreatine (p = 0.010), ATP (p = 0.030), and intracellular pH (p = 0.004) was accelerated by MK-801 and retarded by NBQX over the 45 min of rewarming reperfusion and the first hour of normothermic reperfusion. The final recovery of ATP at 3 h and 45 min reperfusion was significantly reduced by NBQX (46 ± 26% baseline, mean ± SD) versus control (81 ± 19%) and MK-801 (75 ± 8%) (p = 0.030). Cerebral oxygen consumption recovered to 105 ± 30% baseline in group MK-801 and 94 ± 31% in control but only to 61 ± 22% in group NBQX (p = 0.070). Cerebral blood flow stayed significantly lower in group NBQX relative to control. Thus, MK-801 accelerates recovery of cerebral high-energy phosphates and metabolic rate after cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermic circulatory arrest in the immature animal. At the dosage used NBQX exerts an adverse effect.

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The effects of cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest on blood viscoelasticity and cerebral blood flow in a neonatal piglet model

Perfusion ◽

10.1177/026765910001500206 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 121-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Akif Ündar ◽

William K Vaughn ◽

John H Calhoon

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Cardiopulmonary Bypass ◽

Regional Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Circulatory Arrest ◽

Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest ◽

Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest ◽

Regional Cerebral Blood ◽

Neonatal Piglet ◽

Arterial Blood

The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) on the viscoelasticity (viscosity and elasticity) of blood and global and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) in a neonatal piglet model. After initiation of CPB, all animals ( n = 3) were subjected to core cooling for 20 min to reduce the piglets’ nasopharyngeal temperatures to 18°C. This was followed by 60 min of DHCA, then 45 min of rewarming. During cooling and rewarming, the alpha-stat technique was used. Arterial blood samples were taken for viscoelasticity measurements and differently labeled microspheres were injected at pre-CPB, pre- and post-DHCA, 30 and 60 min after CPB for global and regional cerebral blood flow calculations. Viscosity and elasticity were measured at 2 Hz, 22°C and at a strain of 0.2, 1, and 5 using a Vilastic-3 Viscoelasticity Analyzer. Elasticity of blood at a strain = 1 decreased to 32%, 83%, 57%, and 61% ( p = 0.01, ANOVA) while the viscosity diminished 8.4%, 38%, 22%, 26% compared to the baseline values ( p = 0.01, ANOVA) at pre-DHCA, post-DHCA, 30 and 60 min after CPB, respectively. The viscoelasticity of blood at a strain of 0.2 and 5 also had similar statistically significant drops ( p < 0.05). Global and regional cerebral blood flow were also decreased 30%, 66%, 64% and 63% at the same experimental stages ( p < 0.05, ANOVA). CPB procedure with 60 min of DHCA significantly alters the blood viscoelasticity, global and regional cerebral blood flow. These large changes in viscoelasticity may have a significant impact on organ blood flow, particularly in the brain.

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