Establishment of rabbit brain death model by modified intracranial compression and its state maintenance

  Objective: To explore the method of making rabbit brain death model by improved intracranial compression method and maintaining brain death state. Methods: Fifteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups: sham operation group (group B, n=6), only intracranial intubation, and anesthesia maintenance; brain death group (group A, n=9), through modified The brain death model was made by internal pressure method. Record mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) changes. Ventilators and vasoactive drugs are used to maintain vital signs at a certain controllable level.

  Result: 8 of the 9 rabbits in group A were successfully modeled. As the intracranial pressure increased during the intracranial compression, the MAP and HR gradually increased in a wave shape. The peak values of MAP under anesthesia and brain death were (80.63±8.45) mmHg and (111.63±7.71) mmHg, respectively, which were statistically significant (P<0.05). The HR under anesthesia, at the time of brain death and 2 h after brain death were (153.25±14.35) times/min, (262.38±16.60) times/min and (218.50±10.27) times/min, respectively. There is statistical difference (P <0.05).

   Conclusion: Compared with traditional surgical methods, the improved method can establish a rabbit brain death model stably and reliably; through timely and effective breathing and circulatory support, the brain death state can be maintained for a long time.