[Experimental studies on retrograde cerebral perfusion: efficacy of clamping of the venous blood flow through IVC cannula].

Retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) is used to prolong the safe period of circulatory arrest under profound hypothermia. However, this technique now varies in some maneuvers at different institutions. This study investigated the effects on cerebral metabolism of clamping blood flow through the IVC cannula during RCP using fourteen adult mongrel dogs. During circulatory arrest, RCP by way of the bilateral internal maxillary vein was performed. In seven dogs, blood flow was drained through IVC cannula (IVC-drained group) and in the other seven dogs, the blood flow was clamped during RCP (IVC-clamped group). During RCP, the percent of returned blood volume, oxygen consumption, exudation of carbon-dioxide, and oxygen saturation of the returned blood were significantly higher in the IVC-clamped group than in the IVC-drained group, and the concentration of serum CK-BB in the IVC-clamp group was significantly lower than in the IVC-drained group. However, there was no statistical difference between the two groups concerning the regional cerebral blood flow or water content of the cerebral tissue. Concerning about these results, a part of perfused blood passed through not only the extra cranial veno-venous connection but also the intra cranial veno-capillary-venous connection. We concluded that clamping of the venous blood flow through the IVC cannula during RCP is a more protective procedure for cerebral tissue.