The Effect of Sevoflurane on Cerebral CO2 Sensitivity and Systemic Arteries
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2013-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Purpose:
- The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of different carbon-dioxide
concentrations on cerebral CO2 sensitivity and the resistance and stiffness of systemic
arteries during anesthesia with sevoflurane. Sevoflurane is a widely and commonly used
inhalational anaesthetic, that is mainly used for the maintenance of general anesthesia.
- Changes in the velocity of cerebral blood flow and arterial stiffness due to the
different exhaled carbon-dioxide concentrations will allow us to conclude how
sevoflurane affects these parameters during the course of the narcosis.
Instruments:
- An ultrasound device called transcranial doppler (TCD) is used to measure the velocity
of blood flow within a main artery located inside the skull.
- A tonometry device named SphygmoCor is used to assess the pressure wave proceeding in
the radial artery, from which the stiffness of the systemic vessels can be concluded.
Measurements:
- Examinations with the ultrasound and tonometry devices are carried out once before the
operation, three times during the intervention, with different exhaled CO2 values and once
after the operation is completed.
Hypothesis:
- Sevoflurane alters cerebral carbon-dioxide sensitivity and the stiffness of systemic
arteries.