Cerebral Pathophysiology in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Pitfalls in Daily Clinical Management

Figure 1

Lassen curve of autoregulation depicting variations of cerebral blood flow (CBF) over a range of cerebral perfusion pressures (CPP). Point A is the lower limit of the curve (LLA) after which a decrease in CPP will lead to reductions in CBF. Point B is the higher limit of the curve (HLA) after which an increase in CPP with increase CBF. The range of CPP depicted by X is the zone of autoregulation where the CBF remains constant over changes in CPP. This is regulated by vasoconstriction and vasodilation of cerebral arterioles.