Donate Help Contact The AHA Sign In Home
American Heart Association
Stroke
Search: search_blue_button Advanced Search
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ryu, K. H.
Right arrow Articles by Dexter, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ryu, K. H.
Right arrow Articles by Dexter, F.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
*Substance via MeSH
Medline Plus Health Information
*Blood Thinners
Hazardous Substances DB
*HEPARIN

(Stroke. 1996;27:303-310.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.


Articles

Heparin Reduces Neurological Impairment After Cerebral Arterial Air Embolism in the Rabbit

Keon Hee Ryu, MD, PhD; Bradley J. Hindman, MD; Daniel K. Reasoner, MD Franklin Dexter, MD, PhD

From the Department of Anesthesiology, Catholic University Medical College, Kangnam Saint Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Korea (K.H.R.), and the Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Iowa City.

Correspondence to Bradley J. Hindman, MD, Department of Anesthesia, University of Iowa, College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242.

Background and Purpose Neurological injury after cerebral air embolism may be due to thromboinflammatory responses at sites of air-injured endothelium. Because heparin inhibits multiple thromboinflammatory processes, we hypothesized that heparin would decrease neurological impairment after cerebral air embolism.

Methods To first establish a dose of air that would cause unequivocal neurological injury, anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits received either 0, 50, 100, or 150 µL/kg of air into the internal carotid artery (n=5 in each group). One hour later, anesthesia was discontinued. Animals were neurologically evaluated at 24 hours with the use of a scale ranging from 0 (normal) to 97 (coma) points. In a subsequent experiment, anesthetized rabbits received either heparin (n=17) or saline (n=15) 5 minutes before air injection (150 µL/kg). Heparin was given as a 200-IU/kg bolus and followed by a constant infusion of 75 IU · kg-1 · h-1 for 2 hours. Equal volumes of saline were given to control rabbits. Two hours later, anesthesia was discontinued. Animals were neurologically evaluated 24 hours after air embolism.

Results There was a monotonic relationship between dose of air and severity of neurological impairment at 24 hours (P=1.1x10-7). Animals receiving 150 µL/kg of air were unequivocally injured (score, 60±16). In the second experiment, heparin animals had significantly less neurological impairment at 24 hours (34±14) than saline controls (52±8) (P=.0013).

Conclusions When given prophylactically, heparin decreases neurological impairment caused by severe cerebral arterial air embolism.


Key Words: air embolism • fibrin • heparin • leukocytes • thrombin • rabbits




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
EuropaceHome page
H. Calkins, J. Brugada, D. L. Packer, R. Cappato, S.-A. Chen, H. J.G. Crijns, R. J. Damiano Jr, D. W. Davies, D. E. Haines, M. Haissaguerre, et al.
HRS/EHRA/ECAS Expert Consensus Statement on Catheter and Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Recommendations for Personnel, Policy, Procedures and Follow-Up: A report of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) Task Force on Catheter and Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Developed in partnership with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) and the European Cardiac Arrhythmia Society (ECAS); in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). Endorsed and Approved by the governing bodies of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, the European Cardiac Arrhythmia Society, the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the Heart Rhythm Society.
Europace, June 1, 2007; 9(6): 335 - 379.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
ChestHome page
M. Barak and Y. Katz
Microbubbles: Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications
Chest, October 1, 2005; 128(4): 2918 - 2932.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
C.-L. Su, C.-P. Wu, S.-Y. Chen, B.-H. Kang, K.-L. Huang, and Y.-C. Lin
Acclimatization to neurological decompression sickness in rabbits
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2004; 287(5): R1214 - R1218.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Canadian J. AnesthesiaHome page
C. G. Wherrett, R. J. Mehran, and M.-A. Beaulieu
Cerebral arterial gas embolism following diagnostic bronchoscopy: delayed treatment with hyperbaric oxygen : [Embolie gazeuse de l'artere cerebrale suivant une bronchoscopie diagnostique : traitement differe avec l'oxygene hyperbare]
Can J Anesth, January 1, 2002; 49(1): 96 - 99.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NeurologyHome page
N. Akhtar, W. Jafri, and T. Mozaffar
Cerebral artery air embolism following an esophagogastroscopy: A case report
Neurology, January 9, 2001; 56(1): 136 - 137.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
NEJMHome page
C. M. Muth and E. S. Shank
Gas Embolism
N. Engl. J. Med., February 17, 2000; 342(7): 476 - 482.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
A. B. Branger and D. M. Eckmann
Theoretical and experimental intravascular gas embolism absorption dynamics
J Appl Physiol, October 1, 1999; 87(4): 1287 - 1295.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
A. Ziser, Y. Adir, H. Lavon, and A. Shupak
HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY FOR MASSIVE ARTERIAL AIR EMBOLISM DURING CARDIAC OPERATIONS
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., April 1, 1999; 117(4): 818 - 821.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
H. P. Grocott, D. W. Amory, E. Lowry, M. F. Newman, J. E. Lowe, and F. M. Clements
CEREBRAL EMBOLIZATION DURING TRANSMYOCARDIAL LASER REVASCULARIZATION
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., November 1, 1997; 114(5): 856 - 858.
[Full Text]


Home page
StrokeHome page
J. I. Herren, K. S. Kunzelman, C. Vocelka, R. P. Cochran, and B. D. Spiess
Horseradish Peroxidase as a Histological Indicator of Mechanisms of Porcine Retinal Vascular Damage and Protection With Perfluorocarbons After Massive Air Embolism
Stroke, October 1, 1997; 28(10): 2025 - 2030.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
PerfusionHome page
F. Dexter, B. J Hindman, and J. S Marshall
Estimate of the maximum absorption rate of microscopic arterial air emboli after entry into the arterial circulation during cardiac surgery
Perfusion, November 1, 1996; 11(6): 445 - 450.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Home page
StrokeHome page
D. K. Reasoner, F. Dexter, B. J. Hindman, A. Subieta, M. M. Todd, and R. L. Hayes
Somatosensory Evoked Potentials Correlate With Neurological Outcome in Rabbits Undergoing Cerebral Air Embolism
Stroke, October 1, 1996; 27(10): 1859 - 1864.
[Abstract] [Full Text]