A NONINVASIVE METHOD FOR MONITORING CEREBRAL PERFUSION DURING CARDIOPULMONARY-RESUSCITATION

Purpose: This study evaluates the use of transcranial Doppler (TCD) ul trasound in assessing the changes experienced by the cerebral circulat ion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and compares it with me asurements of internal carotid artery (ICA) flow rates (ultrasonic flo w-meter measurements) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) (radioactive-micro sphere measurements) in a porcine cardiac arrest model undergoing clos ed chest CPR. Methods: Sixteen piglets were anesthetized and subjected to TCD monitoring, ICA flow-rate measurements, and CBF measurements d uring CPR following induction of ventricular fibrillation. A total of 14 comparisons between TCD and CBF measurements, and 36 comparisons be tween TCD and ICA flow measurements were performed. Correlations were determined using Pearson's method, and the validity of the correlation was determined using Bonferoni's adjusted probabilities. Results: The correlation between mean cerebral blood flow velocity and mean total ICA flow rate was 0.67 (P < .01). The correlation between peak systoli c blood flow velocity and CBF was 0.76 (P = .02). Conclusions: TCD can provide on-line information about cerebral perfusion during CPR. Copy right (C) 1994 by W.B. Saunders Company