A polarographic multiwire surface electrode was used for measurement of local oxygen partial pressure (pO2) on human brain cortex during neurosurgical operations. The two major problems encountered in this application of the electrode involved sterility of the equipment and mounting of the electrode. The described method of sterilization does not alter the electrical properties of the electrode. A special mount was designed to allow free three-dimensional placement of the electrode without exerting pressure on the cortex.
Basic results of this technique demonstrated that it is possible to distinguish different pO 2 distribution patterns displayed in pO2 histograms for various types of brain tumors and edematous brain tissue. In patients with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain, an increase of tissue pO2 in cortical areas adjacent to the AVM was the result of extirpation of the lesion.
The effect of intravenously administered pentoxifylline was studied during extraintracranial bypass operations in patients with cerebrovascular disease. In 7 patients a consistent shift of the pO2 histograms to the right, i.e., to higher pO2 values, could be demonstrated. Mean pO2 values increased statistically significantly by 16±7 mmHg as early as ten minutes after infusion of pentoxifylline. The rapid improvement of tissue oygenation of human brain cortex is thought to be the result of an improvement of microcirculation, for other parameters influencing tissue pO2 showed no significant alterations if any.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Leniger-Follert E., Lübbers DW,Wrabetz W: Regulation of local tissue pO 2 of the brain cortex at different arterial O2 pressures . Pflügers Arch359:81-95, 1975.
2.
Grote J., et al: Significance of brain surface pO2 measurements in determining oxygen supply conditions in the brain cortex. Proc Int Conf Nijmegen1980:101-105, 1981.
3.
Spiegel HU, Hauss J., Schönleben K.: Einfluss der Unterdruck-Gassterilisation auf die Messeigenschaften der Mehrdrahtoberflächenelektrode . Med Technik4:103-106, 1981.
4.
Hauss J., Schönleben K., Spiegel HU: Therapiekontrolle durch Überwachung des Gewebe-pO2. Eine tierexperimentelle und klinische Studie. Aktuelle Probleme in der Angiologie, vol. 41. Bern, Stuttgart , Wien, Huber, 1982.
5.
Assad F., et al: Measurement of local oxygen partial pressure (PO2) of the brain cortex in cases of brain tumors. In: Advances in Neurosurgery, vol. 12, ed. by Pietrowski W, Brock M, Klinger M.Berlin, Heidelberg, Springer, 1984, pp. 263-270.
6.
Schultheiss R., et al: Measurement of tissue pO2 on the brain surface: Clinical application of the polarographic method. In: Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism Measurement, ed. by Hartmann A, Hoyer S.Berlin , Heidelberg, Springer, 1985, pp. 487-490.
7.
Hartmann A.: Effect of pentoxifylline on regional cerebral blood flow in patients with cerebral vascular disorders. Eur Neurol22 (Suppl 1): 108-115, 1983.
8.
Koppenhagen K., Wenig HG, Müller K.: Measurement of cerebral blood flow following intravenous administration of pentoxifylline ("Trental"). Curr Med Res Opin4:521-528, 1977.
9.
Kessler M., Lübbers DW: Aufbau und Anwendungsmöglichkeit verschiedener pO2 Elektroden. Pflügers Arch291:82, 1966.
10.
Lübbers DW: The meaning of the tissue oxygen distribution curve and its measurements by means of Ptelectrodes. ProgrResp Res3:112, 1969.
11.
Hess H., Franke I., Jauch M.: Medikamentöse Verbesserung der Fliesseigenschaften des Blutes. Fortschr Med91:743-748, 1973.
12.
Ehrly AM: Beeinflussung der Verformbarkeit der Erythrozyten durch Pentoxifyllin. Med Welt26:2300-2301, 1975.
13.
Schneider R. , Schmid-Schönbein H., Kiesewetter H.: The rheological efficiency of parenteral pentoxifylline (Trental) in patients with ischemic brain lesions. Eur Neurol22 (Suppl 1):98-104, 1983.
