[Effect of various types of artificial respiration on raised intracranial pressure, associated with acute alcoholic intoxication].

The effects of spontaneous respiration and mechanical ventilation on ICP were examined by investigating the interaction between elevated pressure and alcohol intoxication. 200 ml ethanol 48% were infused in 11 young pigs with elevated cerebral pressure during mechanical ventilation (Group 1), 7 young pigs with elevated intracranial pressure during spontaneous respiration (Group 2), and 4 young pigs without elevated intracranial pressure during spontaneous respiration (Group 3). While the behaviour of intracranial pressure during mechanical ventilation in the animals from Group 1 was inhomogeneous with a tendency to rise (29 mmHg to 34 mmHg), intracranial pressure (28 mmHg to 55 mmHg) increased dramatically in Group 2. This increase was associated with a sharp rise of paCO2 (37.6 mmHg to 73.3 mmHg) and a decline of paO2 (74 mmHg to 13 mmHg). None of the animals in Group 2 survived. paCO2 also rose in alcoholized animals without elevated ICP (Group 3) (41.9 mmHg to 63.9 mmHg); intracranial pressure, however, remained within the normal range. All animals in Group 3 survived. Our findings indicate that elevated intracranial pressure and alcohol intoxication have a cumulative or potentiating effect on depression of the respiratory centre. Respiratory depression can be prevented by mechanical ventilation and, therefore, a further rise of intracranial pressure can be generally avoided.