Altered cerebral autoregulation and CO2 reactivity after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Disruption of local cortical blood flow (CBF) autoregulation and CO2 reactivity, or vasoparalysis, has been documented in humans after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Generally, the degree of vasoparalysis is related to the patient's clinical grade. Using intraoperative measurement of local CBF, we evaluated pressure autoregulation and CO2 reactivity in patients after SAH. Fourteen patients with SAH and 10 patients with asymptomatic aneurysm underwent craniotomy for clipping of their aneurysms. During operation, local CBF was recorded with thermal conductivity probes placed on the middle frontal gyrus, 4 to 6 cm from the nearest point of retraction. Before retractor placement, CBF was measured with the PCO2 at 25 and 35 mm Hg and the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) between 70 and 80 mm Hg. After aneurysm clipping, flows were again measured. With the PCO2 at 25 mm Hg, the MABP was raised from 65 to 85 mm Hg. The PCO2 was then allowed to rise to 35 mm Hg, after which the MABP was lowered from 85 to 65 mm Hg. Six patients underwent operation within the 1st week after SAH (Grade I, n = 3; Grade II, n = 3). The remainder (n = 8) were operated on 9 days to 3 months after SAH. After aneurysm clipping, significant CBF changes (P less than 0.001) with PCO2 alteration occurred in control patients and those operated on more than 7 days after SAH. There was no significant change in CBF in patients operated on within 7 days after SAH. Changes in CBF reactivity to alteration of MABP were significantly larger in early operation patients than in other groups (P less than 0.008).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)