Intraoperative blood pressure and cerebral perfusion: strategies to clarify hemodynamic goals

Blood pressure can vary considerably during anesthesia. If blood pressure falls outside the limits of cerebrovascular autoregulation, children can become at risk of cerebral ischemic or hyperemic injury. However, the blood pressure limits of autoregulation are unclear in infants and children, and these limits can shift after brain injury. This article will review autoregulation, considerations for the hemodynamic management of children with brain injuries, and research on autoregulation monitoring techniques.