ANAESTHESIA FOR PROFOUND SELECTIVE AUTOCEREBRAL COOLING AND CIRCULATORY ARREST OF HUMAN BRAIN

• Published in: BJA: British Journal of Anaesthesia 1970, Vol.42 (10), p.900-905
• Main Authors: DEMIAN, Y. K., WHITE, R. J., YASHON, D., KRETCHMER, H. E.
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0007-0912; 1471-6771
• DOI: 10.1093/bja/42.10.900

SUMMARY A new technique for localized profound hypothermia of the human brain, with a period of cerebral circulatory arrest applying an autoperfusion technique, was successfully employed for the first time on a human being. It made possible total removal of a large frontal lobe tumour that had been impossible to remove under moderate body hypothermia on a previous attempt. A detailed report of this case, as it relates to the anaesthetic management of this unique method of surgery is presented. (A brief description of the surgical implications of this technique has been previously published (White et al., 1969).) The method used is comparatively simple and free from many of the usual anaesthetic complications and technical difficulties associated with other methods of hypothermia and/or circulatory arrest. It was also possible to do without a perfusion pump, thus avoiding the adverse effects on the autoregulatory mechanisms of the brain circulation asssociated with the use of a pump.