Autoregulation of cerebral blood flow after experimental fluid percussion injury of the brain

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Abstract
To test the hypothesis that concussive brain injury impairs autoregulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF), 24 cats were subjected to hemorrhagic hypotension in 10 mm Hg increments while measurements were made of arterial and intracranial pressure, CBF and arterial blood gases. Eight cats served as controls, 8 were subjected to mild fluid percussion injury of the brain (1.5-2.2 atm) and 8 to severe injury (2.8-4.8 atm). Injury produced only transient changes in arterial and intracranial pressure and no change in resting CBF. Impairment of autoregulation was found in injured animals, more pronounced in the severe injury group. This could not be explained on the basis of intracranial hypertension, hypoxemia, hypercarbia or brain damage localized to the area of the blood flow electrodes. Concussive brain injury produces a generalized loss of autoregulation for at least several hours following injury.