Cerebrovascular responsiveness to carbon dioxide in dogs with 1.4% and 2.8% isoflurane.

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) responsiveness to alterations in arterial CO2 tensions (PaCO2) during 1.4% and 2.8% isoflurane anesthesia was assessed. Dogs were initially anesthetized with thiopental (12 mg/kg, iv bolus), their tracheae intubated, after which anesthesia was maintained with 1.4% isoflurane. In eight animals three levels of PaCO2 (25, 40, and 60 mmHg) were studied during 1.4% and 2.8% isoflurane. Mean arterial blood pressure, sagittal sinus pressure, and cerebrospinal fluid pressure were measured and CBF was determined using radiolabeled microspheres. Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) was maintained constant at approximately 80 mmHg by inflation of a balloon in the midthoracic aorta. CBF during normocapnia was 70 +/- 14 and 118 +/- 18 ml.min-1.100 g-1 with 1.4% and 2.8% isoflurane, respectively. As PaCO2 was decreased and increased, CBF decreased and increased to 42 +/- 7% and 185 +/- 16% of control, respectively, during 1.4% isoflurane. During 2.8% isoflurane, hypocapnia decreased CBF to 39 +/- 6% of control, but CBF did not increase with hypercapnia. In a second group of animals (n = 8), the effects of changes in CPP during hypercapnia with 1.4% and 2.8% isoflurane were assessed. Increasing CPP approximately 25 mmHg with both 1.4% and 2.8% isoflurane increased CBF but did not change CVR from control. With 1.4% isoflurane, the cerebral vasculature constricts with hypocapnia and dilates with hypercapnia, whereas with 2.8% isoflurane, vasoconstriction to hypocapnia is retained but vasodilation to hypercapnia is absent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)