Brain Tissue Oxygen Dynamics Under Localised Hypoxia in the Awake State and the Physical Neuroprotective Effects of General Anaesthesia.

Brain health directly depends on maintaining a level of tissue oxygen that is high enough to avoid global hypoxia and local brain ischaemia. It is well documented that general anaesthesia has an anti-hypoxic neuroprotective effect. Previous studies of this effect primarily assessed the biochemical actions of anaesthetics. Physical actions were not well studied because the quantification of oxygen dynamics has only recently been described. Based on known oxygen, blood, and neuronal measurements, under various anaesthesia protocols and in the awake state, we mathematically analysed physical anaesthesia effects on oxygen distribution for localised hypoxia. From this, we built a universal equation of oxygen dynamics which can be applied to both animal and human subjects in awake and anaesthetised states, under normoxia, hyperoxia, and hypoxia. Using this equation, we determined that a proper anaesthesia protocol can protect up to 167 mm of local hypoxic cortical brain tissue via oxygen diffusion from healthy neighbouring areas.