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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Breathing Increases Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in Humans

DOI

22

Citations

0

References

1994

Year

Hans‐Peter Haring, Ch. H rmann, S. Schalow, A. Benzer
Anesthesia & Analgesia

Abstract

The effect of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) of 12 cm H2O on mean middle cerebral artery flow velocity (CBFV) was studied in nine human volunteers by means of transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). During CPAP breathing, CBFV increased (45 +/- 9 vs 59 +/- 11 cm/s; P < 0.001; mean +/- SD), and pulsatility index (PI) decreased (0.87 +/- 0.1 vs 0.74 +/- 0.2; P < 0.05), indicating an increase in cerebral blood flow due to cerebral vasodilation. This phenomenon should be taken into account when CPAP is applied to patients with intracranial disease or when assessing CBFV patterns of patients during CPAP respiration.