“Concussive Response” and Intracranial Pressure Changes at Sudden Extradural Fluid Volume Input in Rabbits

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Abstract
An extradural fluid volume (0.04–1.0 ml) was suddenly applied to the parietal brain surface in rabbits by means of a plunger system, attached to a hole in the skull. The immediate changes in arterial blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration were recorded and used as criteria of a “concussive response”. These pathophysiological effects were related to peak amplitude (0.1–3.0 atm.) and duration (5–300 msec) of the recorded intracranial pressure pulse. Similar pathophysiological effects could be reproduced by application of the same single load to the brain through a series of experiments. The “severity” of the concussive response varied with the peak amplitude and duration of the intracranial pressure pulse. At pressure pulses of 5–15 msec duration no pathophysiological effects occurred with a pressure pulse not exceeding about 0.7 atm. peak amplitude, but at 2.5 atm. peak pressure irreversible apnea was produced. Decrease in blood pressure occurred at induction of pressure pulses of comparatively low magnitude while a sudden increase in blood pressure was produced at pressure pulses of higher magnitude. Duration of apnea increased with increasing peak amplitude of the pressure pulse and seems to be a useful measure of the “severity” of the concussive response in the present type of brain trauma.

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