The effects of sodium nitroprusside on cerebral blood flow and cerebral venous blood gases

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Abstract
Cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral venous blood gases were investigated in seven awake patients during hypotension induced with sodium nitroprusside. Infusion of the drug into the internal carotid artery produced no changes in cerebral haemodynamics. Intravenous nitroprusside infusion resulted in a decrease in both CBF and jugular venous PO2 (PP2 fell during the infusion (P2 decrease of 0·25 kPa could account for the 6% CBF decrease. At 43% blood pressure reduction, PCO2 fell by 0·53 kPa, a decrease which could not explain the observed CBF fall of 27%. Dizziness and incipient fainting occurred in the patients at this point. It is concluded that sodium nitroprusside has a minor but significant effect on cerebral haemodynamics in normal awake man.

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