Local cerebral blood flow and the electrocorticogram during sodium nitroprusside hypotension.

Changes in local cerebral blood flow during sodium nitroprusside hypotension were measured using the hydrogen electrode technique. At mean arterial pressures from 90% to 50% of control values, local cerebral blood flow showed a significant decrease by 20%. When blood pressure was reduced below 50%, the local cerebral blood flow increased significantly and approached control levels. It is suggested that the flow increase may be due to local hypoxia. Associated with this increase were electrocorticogram changes indicative of hypoxia. The significant decrease in mean local cerebral blood flow and the large range of flows seen during mild hypotension indicate that autoregulation is impaired. During hypotension, intracranial pressure increased by, at most, 3 mm Hg. Cardiac output was usually unaffected and was never decreased by more than 20%.