Relation between spinal cord and epidural blood flow.

To test applicability of monitoring regional spinal cord blood flow by measuring regional epidural blood flow, both were simultaneously measured by the hydrogen clearance method in response to changes in PaCO2 and mean arterial blood pressure in rats anesthetized with pentobarbital. An excellent correlation was found between regional spinal and epidural blood flow over a physiological range of PaCO2 (27.8-66.7 torr) and blood pressure (30-130 torr), while a poor correlation was demonstrated between regional spinal or epidural blood flow and regional muscle blood flow in response to these same physiological parameters. Moreover, the rates of change in regional spinal and epidural blood flows were almost the same in response to both PaCO2 and blood pressure. These results suggest that both regional spinal and epidural blood flow are regulated by a similar mechanism and suggest that regional spinal cord blood flow can be monitored by regional epidural blood flow.