Cerebral blood flow and cerebral oxygen consumption during hypothermia.

C URRENTLY there is widespread interest in the physiologic effects of cold, and in the use of hypothermia with surgery (I, 2). Although no gross neurologic derangements have been observed following the application of this technique in man and experimental animals (3, 4), it seemed appropriate that a special study be made of the effects of hypothermia on cerebral physiology. Cerebral blood flow, cerebral oxygen consumption, cerebral vascular resistance, as well as systemic blood pressure and pulse rate were investigated.