Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide: an interventional study

Abstract

Background

The investigation of CO₂ reactivity (CO₂-CVR) is used in the setting of, e.g., traumatic brain injury (TBI). Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCD) is a promising bedside tool for monitoring cerebral hemodynamics. This study used TCCD to investigate CO₂-CVR in volunteers, in sedated and mechanically ventilated patients without TBI and in sedated and mechanically ventilated patients in the acute phase after TBI.

Methods

This interventional investigation was performed between March 2013 and February 2016 at the surgical ICU of the University Hospital of Zurich. Ten volunteers (group 1), ten sedated and mechanically ventilated patients (group 2), and ten patients in the acute phase (12–36 h) after severe TBI (group 3) were included. CO₂-CVR to moderate hyperventilation (∆ CO₂ -5.5 mmHg) was assessed by TCCD.

Results

CO₂-CVR was 2.14 (1.20–2.70) %/mmHg in group 1, 2.03 (0.15–3.98) %/mmHg in group 2, and 3.32 (1.18–4.48)%/mmHg in group 3, without significant differences among groups.

Conclusion

Our data did not yield evidence for altered CO₂-CVR in the early phase after TBI examined by TCCD.

Trial registration

Part of this trial was performed as preparation for the interventional trial in TBI patients (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03822026, 30.01.2019, retrospectively registered).

Background

Cerebral autoregulation allows the maintenance of stable cerebral blood flow (CBF) despite changes in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) through variations of cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) [25]. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a potent cerebral vasodilator, with a sigmoid relationship between paCO₂ (arterial carbon dioxide) and CBF that can be assumed to be linear during acute changes in normophysiologic states [7] and which is mediated by CO₂ -related changes in extracellular pH. This CO_2—induced mechanism is commonly used in the clinical setting to reduce elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) by application of hyperventilation (HV), leading to hypocapnia. A decrease in paCO₂ leads to a reduction in CBF, thus reducing cerebral blood volume, and, consequently, ICP. Changes in CVR and CBF in response to changes in CO₂ are termed cerebrovascular reactivity to CO₂ (CO₂-CVR).

Several invasive and non-invasive techniques are currently available to assess CBF. These include, e.g., arterial and jugular venous tracer-concentration measurements (Kety-Schmidt method), Xenon clearance technique, positron emission tomography, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and transcranial Doppler (TCD). The choice of technique is dependent on the clinical scenario. The non-invasive bedside ultrasonography technique of TCD is an attractive tool for determining CBF and CO₂-CVR. Reference values for CO₂-CVR assessed by TCD in healthy volunteers are reported to range between 2.9 and 3.7%/mmHg [9, 11, 12, 16, 29]. For patients under general anesthesia, however, the potential effect of anesthetic agents has to be taken into account. Current data suggest maintained CO2-CVR during anesthesia and generally accepted values of 2.5–6% change in cm/s/mmHgCVR for CO₂-CVR have been reported [5, 8, 15, 19, 27, 28]. In TBI, cerebral circulation may be compromised after injury. Data suggest that CO₂-CVR may be preserved or impaired at various stages of TBI [12, 14, 21, 24]. Research concerning the association of impaired CO₂-CVR and neurological outcome is ongoing, because conflicting results have been reported [3, 24].

Transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCD) is an ultrasound technique, combining Doppler and Duplex effects, thus allowing the visualization of the examined vessels. As TCCD is more observer- independent than TCD [18], it could be an attractive tool for serial bedside measurements of flow velocities in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) setting.

In the present interventional study, TCCD was used for assessing CO₂-CVR. A systematic investigation of CO₂-CVR by TCCD in healthy volunteers, patients on mechanical ventilation, and patients with TBI was conducted to investigate whether there is evidence for altered CO₂-CVR in the acute phase of TBI in our study population.

Methods

This study was conducted as an interventional trial in the surgical ICU of the University Hospital of Zurich between March 2013 and February 2016. The Cantonal Ethics Committee of Zurich approved and registered the study (KEK-ZH 2012–0542). Informed written consent was obtained from all participants or next of kin prior to study enrollment and/or from the patient after ICU discharge.

Patients in the TBI group were included in a study focusing on the effect of moderate hyperventilation on cerebral metabolism and thus selected according to previously published inclusion criteria [2]. Part of this trial was performed as preparation for the interventional trial in TBI patients (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03822026, retrospectively registered).

Patient population

The study was conducted in spontaneously breathing volunteers (Group 1), sedated and mechanically ventilated patients with presumed preserved CO₂-CVR (Group 2), and sedated and mechanically ventilated patients suffering from severe TBI (TBI Group 3).

Inclusion criteria for Group 3 were adults (≥ 18 years of age) with non-penetrating head injury, with an initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score < 9 prior to sedation and intubation, extended neuromonitoring with ICP, brain tissue oxygenation (P_brO₂), and/or microdialysis probes (TBI group), and also undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation with FIO₂ < 60% and PEEP < 15 cmH₂O. Exclusion criteria for all groups were decompressive craniectomy, pregnancy, pre-existing neurologic disease, previous TBI, acute cardiovascular disease, severe respiratory failure, acute or chronic liver disease, sepsis, and failure to obtain satisfactory bilateral TCCD signals. Patients with persisting hypovolemia or hemodynamic instability despite previous fluid resuscitation (defined as Global End-Diastolic Volume Index < 680 ml/m², central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO₂) < 60% and/or increase in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) > 15% after passive leg raising test) were excluded.

The study was performed in the acute phase (12–36 h) after severe TBI (Group 3), while patients in Group 2 were investigated within 36 h after onset of mechanical ventilation.

All TBI patients were treated according to a cerebral perfusion orientated protocol aiming to achieve CPP > 70 mmHg, ICP ≤ 20 mmHg, P_brO₂ > 15 mmHg, P_aCO₂ between 4.8 and 5.2 kPa. For Group 2, a MAP of 65 mmHg was targeted.

TCCD measurements

TCCD examination of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was performed bilaterally via the transtemporal acoustic window by two experienced investigators (GB, SK), following standard techniques using a 5–1 MHz Probe (Philips CX 50, USA) [17]. Three repeated measurements of the peak systolic (PSV) and end-diastolic (EDV) velocity were performed for each side and an average value was calculated. The device also automatically calculated CBF-velocity (CBFV) and pulsatility index (PI).

Study protocol

In Group 1, ten spontaneously breathing volunteers were examined (Fig. 1, Panel A) using end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) to monitor ventilation. Subsequently, each volunteer was asked to gradually increase respiratory rate and tidal volume to achieve a reduction in EtCO₂ of approximatively 5.5 mmHg. Once the desired ∆ETCO₂ was achieved, the volunteer maintained a stable minute ventilation and EtCO₂ for the duration of the TCCD measurements. After the TCCD measurements, the volunteer returned to resting ventilation.

Fig. 1

Study protocol. Panel A. Study protocol for group 1. During baseline conditions (A) and after short-term hyperventilation (B) the following parameters were recorded: end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂), peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO₂), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and auricular temperature (T). Measurements with transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCD) were performed at time points A and B. Panel B. Study protocol for groups 2 and 3. During baseline conditions (A), after short-term hyperventilation (B), stabilization (C), and sustained hyperventilation (D) several parameters were recorded. ETCO₂ remained stable during B, C, and D. TCCD measurements were performed during A, C, and D. An arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) was obtained during A, C, and D. Only for patients in group 3 were values for intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) noted during A, B, C, and D. MV: minute volume

Ten sedated and mechanically ventilated ICU patients in Group 2 and ten patients with severe TBI in Group 3 were investigated (Fig. 1, Panel B).

Under baseline conditions, a TCCD examination was performed and all variables were recorded (Fig. 1, point A). The minute ventilation was then increased over a 10-min period to obtain moderate HV by a stepwise increase in tidal volume and respiratory rate until a reduction of EtCO₂ of 0.7 kPa (Fig. 1, point B) was achieved.

After 10 min of stable EtCO₂, a second TCCD measurement was undertaken (begin of HV, Fig. 1, point C). The EtCO₂ value was kept stable for 40 min, and then followed by a third TCCD examination (Fig. 1, point D). Finally, normoventilation was re-established over 10 min and all variables were allowed to return to baseline (Fig. 1, point E). A final TCCD examination was conducted at this time point. At each time point, MAP, SpO₂ and EtCO₂ were recorded.

Arterial blood gas tests (ABG) were obtained at points A, C, D and E, to monitor the changes in pH and P_aCO₂.

For study purpose, measurements and values obtained at timepoint A and B was used for group 1, while timepoint A and D was used for group 2 and 3.

Definition of cerebrovascular reactivity to carbon dioxide

CO₂-CVR is expressed in terms of absolute and relative reactivity. Absolute CO₂-CVR is defined as change in MFV (cm/s) per mmHg change in CO₂. Relative CO₂-CVR is defined as percentage change compared to baseline value.

$$\text{Absolute}\; \text{CO}_{2}-\text{CVR} = \Delta\text{MFV}/\Delta \text{CO}_{2}$$

$$\text{Relative}\; \text{CO}_{2}-\text{CVR} = ( \text{Absolute}\; \text{CO}_{2}-\text{CVR} / \text{baseline}\; \text{MFV}) \times 100$$

As the relative reactivity is less dependent on baseline values, it has been proposed as a more valuable indicator of CO₂-CVR for analysis [10]. Relative reactivity was therefore chosen as the indicator for CO₂-CVR.

∆MFV = difference in MFV between baseline and after HV.

∆CO₂ = difference in CO₂ between baseline and after HV. In Group 1, EtCO₂ was used, while PaCO₂ was used in Group 2 and TBI Group 3.

Hyperventilation constricts distal vessels, so a decrease in the absolute value of MFV is expected is the major intracranial vessels, as the ones investigated by TCCD.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive statistics were presented as mean with standard deviation (SD) or as median with interquartile range (IQR) for quantitative data. Categorical data were presented as absolute numbers with percentages. Comparisons of continuous variables among the three groups were performed with one-way analysis of variance or with the Kruskal–Wallis-test, as appropriate. For statistically significant p-values, post-hoc tests were performed, taking the multiple comparisons into account. Qualitative data among the three groups were compared with the Chi-Square test. In cases of statistically significant results, post-hoc comparisons were made with the appropriate critical level adjustment. Comparisons of quantitative data before and during hyperventilation were conducted with the paired Student’s t-test or with the Wilcoxon matched pairs test, as appropriate. All tests were done two-sided, and p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Stata version 12.1 (StatCorp. LP, College Station, TX, USA) was used for all statistical analysis.

Results

Baseline characteristics of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 are presented in Table 1. As stated in exclusion criteria, patients and volunteers included did not have comorbidities with known impact on cerebral autoregulation. Patients included in group 2 were admitted to the ICU after surgical care (Otolaryngoly (n = 3), plastic surgery (n = 2), thoracic surgery(n = 2), visceral surgery(n = 3)). Patients in Group 3 were under higher dosages of midazolam (p < 0.001), propofol (p = 0.004), fentanyl (p = 0.02), and norepinephrine (p = 0.008) compared to Group 2, while groups were comparable according to age, sex and BMI.

Table 1 Baseline characteristics

All patients included to group 3 showed traumatic subarachnoidal hemorrhage on the initial CT scan. Seven patients showed bilateral contusional hemorrhage and three patients predominantly left sided contusional hemorrhage. Seven Patients were classified as Marshall 2, one patient as Marshall 3, one patient as Marshall 5 and two patients as Marshall 6.

While HR remained stable in all groups, MAP was significantly different between Group 1 and Group 2 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.008) and between Group 2 and Group 3 (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005) at baseline and during HV. HV lead to a significant increase in MV and corresponding decrease in EtCO₂ and P_aCO_2. as well as a significant reduction of MFV in the right and left MCA in all groups (Table 2). Baseline MFV did not differ significantly between group 2 and 3, but was significantly higher at baseline in group 3 compared to group 1 (p = 0.024 (right), p = 0.032 (left)).

Table 2 Physiological data

Absolute and relative values for CO₂-CVR for all groups are presented in Table 3. CO₂-CVR was 2.14 (1.20–2.70) %/mmHg in group 1, 2.03 (0.15–3.98) %/mmHg in group 2, and 3.32 (1.18–4.48)%/mmHg in group 3.

Table 3 Cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity

Neither the CO₂-CVR within-groups (comparison of the more- with the less-injured side) nor between-groups were significantly different.

Discussion

Main findings

The present study used TCCD to assess CO₂-CVR in healthy volunteers, patients under sedation and mechanical ventilation without TBI and patients with severe TBI in the first 12–36 h after trauma. TCCD was conducted in the acute phase after TBI as part of another study. [2]

A relative CO₂-CVR of 2.14%/mmHg (95% CI 1.20–2.70) was found in volunteers, 2.03%/mmHg ( 95% CI 0.15–3.98) in sedated and mechanically ventilated patients and 3.32%/mmHg (95% CI 1.18–4.48) in patients in the acute phase after TBI. CO₂-CVR values between groups was not significantly different.

How our data compare to the literature

In our TCCD study, relative CO₂-CVR values in healthy volunteers 2.14%/mmHg (95% CI 1.20–2.70) were lower than those obtained by Klingelhofer et al.[12], which showed a mean CO₂-CVR of 3.7 ± 0.5%/mmHg. Flow velocities obtained via TCCD might be higher than TCD values due to correction of the angle of incidence in TCCD measurements [1]. This may influence relative CO₂-CVR when TCCD is used. For patients under general anesthesia undergoing major surgery, CO₂-CVR assessed with TCD was reported to be preserved and mainly comparable with that of healthy volunteers [5, 8, 19, 27, 28]. This suggests a negligible influence of routinely used anesthetic agents on CO₂-CVR. In our study, patients received intravenous analgosedation with Propofol and Remifentanil or Fentanil, in accordance to the referred studies, we did not find evidence of impact of those agents on CO₂-CVR. Current values of CO2-CVR around 2.5–6% change in cm/s/mmHg are generally accepted [15]. In accordance with published data, we found a preserved CO₂-CVR in our group of sedated and mechanically ventilated patients without TBI [5, 8, 19, 27, 28].

In our TBI patients, CO₂-CVR was 3.32%/mmHg (95% CI 1.18–4.48). However, the increase in CO₂-CVR did not reach statistical significance. Comparing our data with that in existing literature, some aspects deserve consideration. Klingelhofer et al. [12] reported a decreased but preserved CO₂-CVR of 2.0 ± 1.1%/mmHg in 40 patients with acute traumatic and spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage, of whom 24 were in barbiturate coma. As barbiturates have been shown to influence CO₂-CVR by metabolic suppression [23], this needs to be taken into account. CO₂-CVR was reported to be preserved in other studies with TBI patients, although especially in the acute phase after TBI, impaired CO₂-CVR was observed [14, 21, 24, 26].

In comparison with the cumbersome direct measurement of CBF, the non-invasive, bedside tool of sonography has the advantage of serial measurements of MFV and CO₂-CVR in critically ill patients, although invasive and non-invasive methods complement each other, depending on the clinical scenario.

In our opinion, TCCD offers advantages compared to TCD in the daily setting of an ICU for non-continuous serial measurements, as it has been proven to be less operator dependent [18]. Furthermore, good reliability of interobserver results of TCCD measurements in TBI patients for trained operators has been reported, thus underscoring the value of TCCD to obtain reliable measurements [4]. This is an important aspect in the ICU setting, where serial measurements are performed by variably skilled operators. We were previously able to demonstrate a steep learning curve for residents introduced to TCCD in healthy volunteers [13]. Depending on the clinical scenario, TCCD seems to be interchangeable with TCD for serial monitoring of CO₂-CVR, while TCD offers the advantage of continuous monitoring over time with a fixed probe.

TBI patients have been shown to have impaired cerebrovascular reactivity during long periods of their ICU stay, with a limited impact of current ICU treatment and an association of impaired cerebrovascular reactivity and outcome [6, 30]. Our study results do not suggest impaired CO₂ – CVR. Of notice, CO₂ – CVR is only one of several mechanism of cerebral autoregulation, thus preserved CO₂-CVR does not imply intact cerebral autoregulation. While on the one hand it is known that prolonged HV can negatively affect outcome[20], on the other hand it has been postulated that hyperventilation, when CO2-CVR is intact, temporarily improves cerebral autoregulation[22]. Thus, our finding of preserved CO2-CVR in the early phase after TBI encourages that cautious hyperventilation under monitoring may be considered a therapeutic option [2]. Furthermore, TCCD may serve as a monitoring tool for serial assessment of CO2-CVR, which may change during the course of TBI, to detect signs of deterioration or recovery of CO2-CVR.

Limitations

One limitation of this study is the small sample size; our results should be confirmed in larger studies of TBI patients. As well, the number of volunteers and patients examined in our number is too small to establish reference values. In a larger study, TCCD measurements for the assessment of CO2-CVR should be performed taking the localization of the insult into account. Furthermore, TCCD measurements for the assessment of CO₂-CVR should be performed in both the early and later time course after trauma, taking the localization of the insult into account. Finally, a comparison of CO₂-CVR obtained by TCCD and TCD would be desirable.

Conclusion

Our data did not yield evidence for altered CO₂-CVR in the early phase after TBI and TCCD a reliable tool for determination of CO₂-CVR.