EFFECTS OF SELECTIVE ANGIOGRAPHY OF THE CAROTID-ARTERY WITH CARBON-DIOXIDE ON ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM SOMATOSENSORY-EVOKED POTENTIALS AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC FINDINGS - A PILOT-STUDY IN PIGS

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The authors investigate the cerebral effects of selective carotid angiography with carbon dioxide (CO2). METHODS. In 6 pigs, CO2 was injected into the carotid artery with consecutively increasing doses, Cerebral function was monitored with two-channel el ectroencephalography and somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), After the experiment the brains were investigated histopathologically. RESU LTS. Initial doses led to reversible decreases in electroencephalograp h power by 40% to 80%. Further doses result in partly nonreversible el ectroencephalographic changes, Somatosensory evoked potential latencie s (n = 5) were not changed, Amplitudes were not affected in low dose r anges up to 40 mL CO2, Higher CO2 doses led to different changes, Ther e were no SEP amplitude reductions (n = 1), as well as reversible (n = 2) and nonreversible (n = 2) SEP amplitude reductions, Histopathologi cally, edema (n = 6), edema necrosis (n = 2), and destroyed cells as a sign of ischemia (n = 2) were found. CONCLUSIONS. Administering CO2 i n brain supplying arteries impairs the cerebral function. Consecutive, increasing doses lead to partly nonreversible electroencephalographic and SEP changes and brain tissue damages.