Optimal pH strategy for selective cerebral perfusion.

OBJECTIVE Selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) affords brain protection superior to hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) for prolonged aortic arch procedures. Optimal pH strategy for HCA is controversial; for SCP it is unknown. We compared pH strategies during SCP in a survival pig model. METHODS Twenty juvenile pigs (26+/-2.4 kg), randomized to alpha-stat (n=10) or pH-stat (n=10) management, underwent cooling to 20 degrees C on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) followed by 90 min of SCP at 20 degrees C. SCP was conducted with a mean pressure of 50 mmHg and hematocrit of 22.5%. Using fluorescent microspheres and sagittal sinus blood sampling, cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen metabolism (CMRO2) were assessed at the following time points: baseline, after 30 min cooling (20 degrees C), 30 min of SCP, 90 min of SCP, 15 min post-CPB and 2h post-CPB. Visual evoked potentials (VEP) were assessed at baseline and monitored for 2h during recovery. Neurobehavioral recovery (10=normal) was assessed in a blinded fashion for 7 postoperative days. RESULTS There were no significant differences between the groups at baseline. CBF was significantly higher at the end of cooling, and after 30 and 90 min of SCP in the pH-stat group (P=0.02, 0.007, 0.03). CMRO2 was also higher with pH-stat (P=0.06, 0.04, 0.10). Both groups showed prompt return to values close to baseline after rewarming (P=ns). VEP suggested a trend towards improved recovery in the alpha-stat group at 2h post-CPB, P=0.15. However, there were no significant differences in neurobehavioral score: (alpha-stat versus pH-stat) median values 7 and 7.5 on day 1; 9 and 9 on day 4, and 10 and 10 on day 7. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that alpha-stat management for SCP provides more effective metabolic suppression than pH-stat, with lower CBF. Clinically, the better preservation of cerebral autoregulation during alpha-stat perfusion should reduce the risk of embolization.