INTRAOCULAR AND INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE DURING RESPIRATORY ALKALOSIS AND ACIDOSIS

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Abstract
Intraocular and intracranial pressures (IOP and ICP) were measured at 4 different arterial CO2 tensions by direct continuous techniques in Rhesus monkeys during anesthesia with halothane and nitrous oxide. Increases in IOP correlated significantly with PaCO2 (arterial partial pressure of CO2] ranging from 2.66-10.24 kPa [kilo Pascal] (P < 0.001). Increases in ICP correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with PaCO2 between 2.66-7.71 kPa, but plateaued therafter. When PaCO2 was decreased rapidly, PaCO2, IOP and ICP decreased exponentially with similar half-times. The fast changes in IOP and ICP can probably be explained by an alteration of intraocular and intracranial blood volumes. IOP usually remained within the normal range, even at maximum PaCO2.