Intracranial Blood Volume and Its Variation with Changes in Intracranial Pressure

Abstract

The intracranial blood volume (ICBV) may undergo rapid changes in connection with circulatory adjustments of the cerebral vascular bed. The effects of changes in the ICBV on intracranial pressure (ICP) are magnified by intracranial mass lesions and increased pressure. Under extreme conditions with cerebral vasoparalysis the vascular bed may assume excessive dimensions with adverse consequences (2). An accurate assessment of the mechanical effects of changes in the vascular volume demands a method for continuous, quantitative monitoring of the ICBV in different circumstances. The present paper is concerned with a description of such a method which has been worked out in dogs and applied to the problem of the effect on ICBV of increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure.