A Comparison of the Transient Hyperemic Response Test and the Static Autoregulation Test to Assess Graded Impairment in Cerebral Autoregulation During Propofol, Desflurane, and Nitrous Oxide Anesthesia

The transient hyperemic response (THR) test has been used to assess cerebral autoregulation in anesthesia and intensive care. To date it has not been compared with the static autoregulation test for assessing graded changes in cerebral autoregulation. We compared the two tests during propofol, desflurane, and nitrous oxide anesthesia. Seven subjects were studied. For the THR test, changes in the middle artery blood flow velocity were assessed during and after a 10-s compression of the ipsilateral common carotid artery. Two indices of autoregulation--THR ratio (THRR) and strength of autoregulation (SA)--were calculated. For the test of static autoregulation, changes in the middle cerebral artery flow velocity after a phenylephrine-induces increase in mean arterial pressure were assessed, and the static rate of regulation (sROR) was calculated. The tests were performed before induction and after equilibrium at 0.5 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) and then at 1.5 MAC of desflurane. THRR, SA and sROR decreased significantly (P < 0.001) at 0.5 MAC and then at 1.5 MAC desflurane. CHanges in THRR and SA reflected the changes in sROR with a sensitivity of 100%. When compared with the established test of static autoregulation, the transient hyperemic response test provides a valid method for assessing graded impairment in cerebral autoregulation.