The Role of Intracarotid Cold Saline Infusion on a Theoretical Brain Model Incorporating the Circle of Willis and Cerebral Venous Return

• Published in: 2007 29th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Vol. 2007; pp. 1140 - 1143
• Main Authors: Neimark, M.A., Konstas, A.-A., Choi, J.H., Laine, A.F., Pile-Spellman, J.
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Arteries; Blood; Blood Volume - physiology; Body Temperature - physiology; Body Temperature Regulation - physiology; Brain - blood supply; Brain - physiology; Brain modeling; Carotid Arteries - physiology; Catheters; Cerebral Veins - physiology; Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology; Circle of Willis - physiology; Cold Temperature; Computer Simulation; Cooling; Energy Transfer - physiology; Equations; Humans; Hypothermia, Induced - methods; Infusions, Intra-Arterial; Models, Biological; Robustness; Sodium Chloride - administration & dosage; Solid modeling; Temperature; Virtual reality
• ISBN: 9781424407873; 1424407877
• ISSN: 1094-687X; 1557-170X; 1558-4615
• DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2007.4352497

This study describes a theoretical model of brain cooling by intracarotid cold saline infusion which takes into account redistribution of cold perfusate through the circle of Willis (CoW) and cold venous return (VR) from the head. This model is developed in spherical coordinates on a four tissue layer hemispherical geometrical configuration. Temperature evolution is modeled according to the Pennes bioheat transfer equation. Simulations were run over a 1 hour period and 30 ml/min of freezing cold saline with the baseline model (no VR, no CoW), VR model (without CoW), and CoW model (with VR). The VR model demonstrates continuing temperature drop in the treatment region of the brain not observed in the baseline model and its final mean ipsilateral anterior temperature was approximately 31 degC. The temperature effect in the CoW model was present but less robust in the ipsilateral anterior region, as final temperature was 32 degC. However, cooling was also achieved in contralateral and posterior brain regions. This model continues to demonstrate the feasibility of intracarotid cold saline infusion for ischemic stroke therapy.