Cerebral Blood Flow, AJDO2 & CMRO2 in Comatose Children

Abstract

The relationship between coma, cerebral edema, cerebral blood flow and cerebral metabolism has been defined in adult patients over the last decade. In metabolic coma, the metabolism may be depressed or normal and CBF is generally a reflection of brain metabolism with metabolic regulation being preserved. Following head trauma, the majority of adults exhibit decreased CMR02 and proportional decrease in CBF, also suggesting intact metabolic regulation. Recently, reports of increased CBF in the face of a decreased CMR02 have been reported post trauma^2,3. This relative hyperemia has been reported to carry a poor prognosis. There is little information on the state of cerebral blood flow and metabolism in comatose children and the following study reports on determinations of global flow and oxygen metabolism in 18 comatose children.