Objectives: To analyze the influences of mild and severe intracranial hypertension on cerebral autoregulation (CA).
Patients and methods: Duroc piglets were monitored with an intracranial pressure (ICP) catheter. Intracranial hypertension was induced via infusion of 4 or 7 ml of saline solution by a bladder catheter that was inserted into the parietal lobe. The static cerebral autoregulation (sCA) index was evaluated via cerebral blood flow velocities (CBFv). Piglets with ICPs ≤ 25 and > 25 mmHg were considered as group 1 and 2, respectively. Continuous variables were evaluated using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit test. The main parameters were collected before and after ICH induction and compared using two-factor mixed-design ANOVAs with the factor of experimental group (mild and severe ICH).
Results: In group 1 (ICP ≤ 25 mmHg), there were significant differences in sCA (p = .01) and ICP (p = .0002) between the basal and balloon inflation conditions. In group 2 (ICP > 25 mmHg), there were significant differences in CBFv (p = .0072), the sCA index (p = .0001) and ICP (p = .00001) between the basal and balloon inflation conditions.
Conclusion: We conclude that intracranial hypertension may have a direct effect on sCA.
Keywords: Mild intracranial hypertension; cerebral autoregulation; experimental model; intracranial hypertension.