Autoregulation of cerebral blood flow during alcohol infusion.

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Abstract
The autoregulation of cerebral blood flow was evaluated during alcohol infusion in 2 groups of animals. Carotid arterial or jugular venous flows were followed in rhesus monkeys in 1 group and regional (thalamic) flows were assessed in dogs by a H clearance technique in another. Ethanol was administered i.v. as a 20% solution in a dose of 6 ml/kg of body wt (0.9 g/kg); this was repeated if necessary. Deficiencies of vascular control were noted in both groups. They tended to be greater in the dog although blood alcohol levels were somewhat different. The vascular changes occurred with large doses and were found in the absence of respiratory complications when PaO2 [arterial pressure of O2] and PaCO2 [arterial pressure of CO2] values were normal limits. The findings could apply to cases showing complications during head injury as ethanol may alter the susceptibility of trauma victims to shock and other changes. The ethanol-induced alterations may represent combined actions and include traumatic effects from electrode insertions in 1 model, and vascular changes due to spasm following probe applications on major vessels in the other.