Altered cerebrovascular responses after exposure to venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: Role of the nitric oxide pathway

Abstract

Cerebral arteries exposed to VA ECMO had impaired myogenic responses combined with altered endothelial function. The endothelial alteration seems to be mediated through the nitric oxide pathway, with recovery noted after addition of a nitric oxide donor. It can be postulated that these changes may reflect the mechanisms for the impairment of cerebral autoregulation previously reported in this lamb model.