Anesthetic effects on neurological deficits and blood-brain barrier function follwing focal cerebral ischemia in cats

The present study examined the effects of anesthetics upon neurological deficits and blood-brain barrier function following focal cerebral ischemia produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 3 hours in cats. Both neurological deficit score and Evans blue penetration index examined after reperfusion were less in cats anesthetized with halothane or penetobarbital during the early reperfusion period, compared to cats anesthetized with halothane only during occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The results were not significantly different whether halothane or pentobarbital was used during the repergusion period. When change in blood pressure after reperfusion and Evants blue penetration index in all cats were pooled, the degree of barrier dysfunction was significantly correlated with the reperfusion increase in blood oressure. Thus, it can be said that stabilization of systemic blood pressure with anesthetics contributes to the improvement of post-ischemic blood-brain barrier function, regardless of anesthetics used, Hence, the avoidance of post-ischemic hypertension may be more important than the choice of anesthetics in such situations.