Atraumatic xenon-133 techniques and the measurement of cerebral blood flow in the investigation room, operating theatre and intensive care unit.

The ideal CBF measurement technique should be completely atraumatic, the investigation time should be short, and repeated regional measurements, having a precision such that clinically significant CBF changes can be detected, should be possible. The Glasgow methods have been designed around these principles. The inhalation technique has been applied to CBF measurement during trial carotid artery compression, drug assessment, paraplegia and polycythaemia. The intravenous injection technique has proved useful in the investigation of patients with severe head injuries and raised intracranial pressure and in indicating a suitable level of hypotension during aneurysm surgery.