Pediatric research
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This study was designed to evaluate the effect of normothermic partial bypass, or venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), on cerebral autoregulation. Fourteen newborn lambs, 1-7 d of age, were randomized into two groups: control (ligation of right carotid artery and jugular vein without ECMO; n = 7) and ECMO (ligation with placement on routine venoarterial ECMO at 120-150 mL/kg/min; n = 7). After 1 h of ECMO or stabilization in controls, cerebral autoregulation was evaluated by lowering cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) by increasing intracranial pressure through infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid into the lateral ventricle. ⋯ Cerebral oxygen consumption decreased from baseline (4.2 +/- 1.1 mL/100 g/min) to 4.0 +/- 0.7 and 3.2 +/- 1.3 mL/100 g/min at CPP of 39-25 and < 25 mm Hg, respectively, in the ECMO group. In the control group, cerebral oxygen consumption was unchanged from baseline (4.2 +/- 1.1 mL/100 g/min) until CPP was reduced to < 25 mm Hg (3.2 +/- 1.3 mL/100 g/min). When CBF autoregulation was altered, i.e. when total CBF decreased, right-left hemispheric CBF differences were noted in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)