The effects of an extradural expanding lesion on regional intracranial pressure, blood flow, somatosensory conduction and brain herniation: an experimental study in baboons.

Intracranial pressure (ICP) differences, change of local blood flow (CBF) using the hydrogen clearance technique, change in the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) to median nerve stimulation and pupillary size were investigated during progressive elevation of the ICP (using an extradural balloon) in 6 anaesthetized baboons. CBF was measured in the frontal cortex, somatosensory cortex, thalamus (nucleus ventralis posterior lateralis-VPL), medial lemniscus (ML), lateral lemniscus (LL) and caudate nucleus (CN). Conduction along the somatosensory pathway between C2 at the neck and VPL was compared with conduction between VPL and primary somatosensory cortex. The amplitude of the cortical SEP was also studied. ICP gradients between hemispheres developed as the pressure was increased to in excess of 50 mm Hg. CBF was significantly reduced from control in the cortex and VPL on the side ipsilateral to the balloon at 50 mm Hg ICP. A significant decrease in ML flow occurred bilaterally at 70 mm Hg ICP. Conduction time was increased significantly between the right VPL and cortex at a pressure of 50 mm Hg. The amplitude of the cortical response was significantly reduced at 30 mm Hg on the right side and 50 mm Hg on the left. Aniscoria occurred at 50 mm Hg ICP and the pupils became dilated at 70 mm Hg. The SEP was possibly more sensitive than the pupillary reactions as an indication of tentorial herniation in these experiments.