Spinal cord tissue oxygen in experimental ischemia, compression, and central necrosis.

A polarographic electrode of the surface reservoir type was applied to the canine cervical cord to obtain tissue oxygen tension. Normal, ischemic, compressed, and centrally necrotized spinal cords were examined. Effects of hypertension, hypotension, and pure oxygen inhalation on the cord oxygen were checked. Both ischemic and compressed cord demonstrated tissue oxygen lower than normal cord. Centrally necrotized cord showed normal oxygen in air ventilation but responded less markedly to 100% oxygen ventilation than did normal cord. Hypertension and hypotension made the cord oxygen rise and fall, respectively, more consistently in centrally necrotized cord than in normal cord. This method was shown to be useful for monitoring the spinal cord blood flow.