Hypoxia of the brain occurs in the case of acute lack of oxygen. This is facilitated by adverse environmental factors or pathologies in the human body.
Hypoxia owes its occurrence to cerebrovascular accidents, shock conditions, acute form of cardiovascular failure, carbon monoxide poisoning, complete transverse cardiac blockade, asphyxia of various nature. Oxygen starvation of the brain may be the result of complications during operations on the heart and major vessels, and may also occur in the early postoperative period. In this condition, the development of a variety of neurological syndromes and mental disorders is observed.
Hypoxia of the brain: symptoms
At an early stage, microcirculatory disorders are observed, which are manifested in the development of stasis, plasma impregnation and necrobiotic changes in the vascular walls with impaired permeability. Plasma exit into the pericapillary space is also possible. The acute form of the disease is accompanied by various degrees of neurocyte damage. Brain cells undergo vacuolization, chromatolysis, hyperchromatosis, pycnosis, acute swelling, ischemic and homogenizing state of neurons. The ultrastructure of the nucleus and its membranes is also grossly violated, mitochondrial destruction is observed.
Acute hypoxia of the brain manifests itself in the form of excitation of the nervous system, which is replaced by inhibition and increasing inhibition of its functionality. Motor anxiety, euphoria, rapid heartbeat and breathing, pale skin, cold sweat accompany mental symptoms. The period of excitation may be absent. Followed by a sluggish state with darkening in the eyes, dizziness, drowsiness, general inhibition, stupor, gradual depression of consciousness.
The period of disinhibition and induction intensification of the activity of subcortical formations is accompanied by erratic motor activity, convulsions, subsequent loss of skin reflexes, periosteal, tendon. At the next round of the disease, corneal and pupillary reflexes disappear . Spastic paralysis and increased muscle tone, the manifestation of pathological reflexes characterize motor activity.
Hypoxia of the brain with its rapid development within a minute causes a loss of consciousness. A couple of minutes pass and the person falls into a coma. Brain hypoxia causes various neurological syndromes.
The following forms of coma are distinguished: subcortical (state of decortication), anteroluminal (diencephalic-mesencephalic), posterolateral and terminal (transcendental). The onset of coma, as a rule, is preceded by the so-called. precomatous conditions: stupor (stupor), stunning and doubt (drowsiness).
Severe posthypoxic encephalopathy and mild posthypoxic encephalopathy are distinguished among diffuse organic lesion syndromes.
Asthenic conditions are posthypoxic asthenia with hypo- and hypersthenia.
Brain hypoxia: treatment
During treatment, it is necessary to maintain the functioning of the heart, respiration, water-salt balance, and the acid-base state of the patient. The consequences of circulatory hypoxia are treated with drugs, antipsychotics. A special role is given to cerebral hypothermia, extracorporeal circulation and hyperboric oxygenation. Antioagulants and reopoliglyukin help prevent microcirculation disorders. Antihypoxic drugs are quite effective. Scientists are creating new quinones, which are based on orthobenzoquinone. Gutiminum, sodium oxybutyrate, drugs of the nootropic group have protective properties.