Systemic and myocardial oxygen transport responses to brain death in pigs

J. Li, Igor Konstantinov, S. Cai, M. Shimizu, A.N. Redington

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    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background. Brain death is associated with profound disturbances of systemic and myocardial oxygen transport, but little is known regarding the acute response of systemic oxygen consumption (VO2).Methods. Brain death was induced in 6 pigs (30.6 +/- 3.0 kg) by balloon inflation into the cranial cavity. VO2 was continuously measured by respiratory mass spectrometry. Blood pressures and gases were measured from the aorta, superior vena cava, and coronary sinus, with arterial epinephrine and norepinephrine, prior to brain death, at 1, 10, and 90 minutes after brain death. Cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), oxygen delivery (DO2), oxygen extraction (EO2), and myocardial oxygen (mEO(2)) and lactate extractions (mE(1ac)) were calculated. Left ventricular contractility was assessed by micro-manometer tipped catheters.Results. VO2 increased from 4.8 +/- 0.9 to 6.3 +/- 0.9 mL/min/kg 1 minute after brain death (P <.001), and subsequently decreased to below baseline at 90 minutes (P <.001). Left ventricular contractility, CO, and DO2 increased 1 minute after brain death (P <.001), followed by a rapid decrease to baseline within 10 minutes (P <.001). SVR and EO2 decreased after brain death (P <.01) and remained low. Lactate remained unchanged. mE(1ac) decreased after brain death despite a decrease in mEO(2) (P <.01), and returned to baseline at 90 minutes.Conclusions. The initial surge in VO2 after brain death is offset by the greater increase in DO2, thus tissue perfusion remains adequate. The lower than baseline VO2 and SVR at the end of the study period may indicate general metabolic and hemodynamic compromise. The information regarding the profound metabolic alterations imposed by brain death may have implications for management of brain death donors.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)21-26
    JournalTransplantation Proceedings
    Volume39
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2007

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