CBF and CMRO2 during craniotomy for small supratentorial cerebral tumours in enflurane anaesthesia. A dose-response study.

In 14 patients with supratentorial cerebral tumours with midline shift less than or equal to 10 mm, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) were measured twice on the contralateral side of the craniotomy, using a modification of the Kety & Schmidt method. For induction of anaesthesia, thiopental, fentanyl and pancuronium were used. The anaesthesia was maintained with enflurane 1% in nitrous oxide 67%. Moderate hypocapnia to a level averaging 4.3 kPa was achieved. The patients were divided into two groups. In Group 1 (n = 7), 1% enflurane was used throughout the anaesthesia, and CBF and CMRO2 measured about 70 min after induction averaged 30.1 ml 100 g-1 min-1 and 1.98 ml O2 100 g-1 min-1, respectively. During the second CBF study 1 h later, CBF and CMRO2 were unchanged (P greater than 0.05). In Group 2 (n = 7), the inspiratory enflurane concentration was increased from 1 to 2% after the first CBF measurement. In this group a significant decrease in CMRO2 was observed, while CBF was unchanged. In six patients EEG was recorded simultaneously with the CBF measurements. In patients subjected to increasing enflurane concentration (Group 2), a suppression in the EEG activity was observed without spike waves. It is concluded that enflurane induces a dose-related decrease in CMRO2 and suppression in the EEG activity, whereas CBF was unchanged.