Relationship of Cerebral Blood Flow Disturbances with Brain Oedema Formation

Sodium T2*-weighted MR imaging of acute focal cerebral ischemia in rabbits

“…However, sufficient SNR (18:1) and resolution were achieved to monitor the 23 Na signal changes in infarcted tissue that were consistent with the physiologic events that occur during the evolution of brain injury. The maintenance of normal cell volume is dependent on the permeability of the cell membrane to Na ϩ ions and a continuous supply of energy to maintain the intra/extracellular electrolyte concentration gradients through active ion transport by the Na ϩ /K ϩ ATPase [34,35]. In stroke, reduced oxygen delivery to the mitochondria results in an interruption of the energy required for active transport [13], resulting in the redistribution of sodium ions from the extracellular to the intracellular space and subsequent cell swelling due to cytotoxic edema [36].…”

Cerebral Edema and its Management

“…So if there is excessive water, the volume of brain as well as blood inside the skull is compressed. Conversely, primary blood flow disturbances also lead to brain edema [6]. As the brain, blood or CSF volumes continue to increase, the accommodative mechanisms fail and intracranial pressure (ICP) then rises exponentially.…”

Impact of anesthesia on pathophysiology and mortality following subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats

“…after experimental traumatic brain injury [11] and after focal cryogenic lesion [43] as also observed in the current study. This is most likely caused by the effect of isoflurane on cerebral blood volume (see above), however, brain damage due to prolonged post-hemorrhagic ischemia/hypoperfusion [44] would also be expected to be involved in the development of brain edema in animals anesthetized with isoflurane.…”