CO2 and indomethacin vasoreactivity in patients with head injury

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of hyper-ventilation and indomethacin on cerebral circulation, metabolism and pressures in patients with acute severe head injury in order to see if indomethacin may act supplementary to hyperventilation. Fourteen severely head injured patients entered the study. Intracranial pressure (ICP), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) were monitored continuously. Within the first four days after the trauma the CO2 and indomethacin vasoreactivities were studied by measurements of cerebral blood flow (CBF) (Cerebrograph 10a, intravenous133Xe technique) and arterio-venous difference of oxygen (AVdO2). Ischaemia was evaluated from changes in CBF, saturation of oxygen in the jugular bulb (SvjO2), lactate and lactate/oxygen index (LOI). Data are presented as medians and ranges, results are significant unless otherwise indicated.