Effect of 1% enflurane (Ethrane) anesthesia on cerebral blood flow and metabolism in neurosurgical patients during normo- and hyperventilation.

We have measured the CBF in ten neurosurgical patients. A first measurment was made during anesthesia with nitrous oxide 70% and a second with nitrous oxide 70% + 1% enflurane, both at a PaCO2 of 40 Torr. A third measurement was performed also with nitrous oxide + 1% enflurane, but at a PaCO2 of 30 Torr. We used the method of intracarotid 133Xe injection, with a gammacamera recording. In order to avoid any decrease of cerebral perfusion pressure, which might influence the CBF, an infusion of phenylephrine was used, if needed. At a constant PaCO2 of 40 Torr, there was no statistically significant difference in CBF with nitrous oxide + 1% enflurane compared to nitrous oxide alone. No change in cerebral vascular resistance was observed. When PaCO2 was lowered to 30 Torr, under 70% nitrous oxide + 1% enflurane, there was a 43% decrease in CBF (from a mean of 42 ml/100 G/min. to a mean of 24 ml/100 g/min.). Cerebral vascular resistance had an increase of 79%. In some instances, the decrease in CBF reached values around 20 ml/100 g/min. and in one case, even less. That level is generally considered to be the lowest acceptable limit in the conscious man, though not necessarily in the anesthetised one. Under hypocapnia, the cerebral arterio-venous oxygen difference increased, but the CMRO2 did not change. There were little differences in lactate and pyruvate cerebral metabolic rates, all values remaining within normal ranges. In conclusion, we believe that enflurane is a favorable anesthetic agent for neurosurgical operations at the concentration of 1%, CMRO2 is reduced, there is no significant effect on cerebral blood vessels, CBF and CVR do not change. However, a complementary use of hypocapnia may reduce CBF to dangerously low levels, if at the start, it shows already a pathological decrease and if hyperventilation is applied at a marked degree.