Noninvasive Assessment of Brain Injury in a Canine Model of Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Christopher J. Barreiro, Jason A. Williams, Torin P. Fitton, Mary S. Lange, Mary E. Blue, Lisa Kratz, Peter B. Barker, Mahaveer Degaonkar, Vincent L. Gott, Juan C. Troncoso, Michael V. Johnston, William A. Baumgartner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Studies have confirmed the neuroprotective effect of diazoxide in canines undergoing hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA). A decreased N-acetyl-asparate:choline (NAA:Cho) ratio is believed to reflect the severity of neurologic injury. We demonstrated that noninvasive measurement of NAA:Cho with magnetic resonance spectroscopy facilitates assessment of neuronal injury after HCA and allows for evaluation of neuroprotective strategies. Methods: Canines underwent 2 hours of HCA at 18°C and were observed for 24 hours. Animals were divided into three groups (n = 15 in each group): normal (unoperated), HCA (HCA only), and HCA+diazoxide (pharmacologic treatment before HCA). The NAA:Cho ratios were obtained 24 hours after HCA by spectroscopy. Brains were immediately harvested for fresh tissue NAA quantification by mass spectrometry. Separate cohorts of HCA (n = 16) and HCA+diazoxide (n = 23) animals were kept alive for 72 hours for daily neurologic assessment. Results: Cortical NAA:Cho ratios were significantly decreased in HCA versus normal animals (1.01 ± 0.29 versus 1.31 ± 0.23; p = 0.004), consistent with severe neurologic injury. Diazoxide pretreatment limited neurologic injury versus HCA alone, reflected in a preserved NAA:Cho ratio (1.21 ± 0.27 versus 1.01 ± 0.29; p = 0.05). Data were substantiated with fresh tissue NAA extraction. A significant decrease in cortical NAA was observed in HCA versus normal (7.07 ± 1.9 versus 8.54 ± 2.1 μmol/g; p = 0.05), with maintenance of normal NAA levels after diazoxide pretreatment (9.49 ± 1.1 versus 7.07 ± 1.9 μmol/g; p = 0.0002). Clinical neurologic scores were significantly improved in the HCA+diazoxide group versus HCA at all time points. Conclusions: Neurologic injury remains a significant complication of cardiac surgery and is most severe after HCA. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy assessment of NAA:Cho ratios offers an early, noninvasive means of potentially evaluating neurologic injury and the effect of neuroprotective agents.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1593-1598
Number of pages6
JournalAnnals of Thoracic Surgery
Volume81
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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