Fluorocarbon emulsion as a potential contrast medium in the subarachnoid space and brain tissue. Experiments in cats.

Ventriculosubarachnoid perfusion with oxygenated fluorocarbon emulsion has been used in the treatment of severe cerebral ischemia in cats. The perfusion vehicle is prepared mimicking cerebrospinal fluid in terms of electrolyte content, osmolality, pH, glucose and amino acids. Fluorocarbon emulsion is prepared with the vehicle as the external phase and charged with high partial pressures of oxygen. This fluorocarbon emulsion has been well-tolerated by the central nervous system. In addition to delivering oxygen to the ischemic tissues via the ventriculosubarachnoid space, the fluorocarbon emulsion has an absorption coefficient higher than normal brain and cerebrospinal fluid. This property makes it easily detected on the CT scan. Determination of appearance, attenuation, distribution, and absorption of the fluorocarbon has been performed in cats after direct intraventricular injection of the substances and after perfusion of the emulsion. The results of these experiments stress the possibility of using a fluorocarbon emulsion as a potential contrast medium in the brain and subarachnoid space, particularly after brain anoxia.