Recirculation in the acute period of cerebral infarction: brain swelling and its suppression using mannitol.

Using the incomplete cerebral hemisphere infarction model in dogs, observations were made on the effect of 20% mannitol on brain swelling in groups of experimental animals following recirculation. In dogs undergoing 2-hour occlusion, mannitol clearly suppresses subsequent swelling; but after 6-hour occlusion, it was found that mannitol alone had little positive effect.