Effect of moderate arterial hypotension combined with repeated withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid on the development of increased ventricular fluid pressure after cold injuries in cats.

The influence of Trimetaphan induced hypotension was studied on the development of increased ventricular fluid pressure after induction of cold injuries of the brain in cats. Hypotension was induced in two series of animals: in one immediately after freezing and in another series after a delay of three quarters of an hour. In the animals not treated with hypotension ventricular fluid pressure increased considerably according to three types of response. In both series treated with hypotension the ventricular fluid pressure and elastance were significantly lower than in the animals not treated; also brain stem herniation tended to occur less frequently in the animals treated. No deleterious effect of the hypotension was seen on cerebral metabolism as measured by the lactate content in the cerebrospinal fluid.