Suppression of brain swelling with mannitol and perfluorochemicals. An experimental study.

Using the incomplete cerebral hemisphere infarction in dogs, we have been able to produce brain swelling in all animals after six hours of vascular occlusion followed by recirculation of blood. The current study tested the effects of mannitol, perfluorochemicals (FC), and inhalation of oxygen in various combinations on such brain swelling. 1. Mannitol alone, FC alone, and FC together with oxygen were ineffective. Mannitol together with oxygen was to some extent effective in suppressing brain swelling. 2. Mannitol followed by FC was effective in suppressing brain swelling, and this effectiveness was further enhanced by inhalation on oxygen. 3. Noteworthy is the fact that among these experimental groups, there were animals in which brain swelling was severe, yet extravasation of Evans blue was slight and, contrarily, animals in which brain swelling was slight but extravasation severe.