Effect of pregabalin on cerebral outcome after cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in rats.OBJECTIVE
 Activation of presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels and release of glutamate play a central role in neuronal necrosis after cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.  The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of pregabalin on cerebral outcome after cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest through an established rat model allowing long-term survival.


 Rats were cooled to a pericranial temperature of 18°C and underwent deep hypothermic circulatory arrest for 60 minutes.  Preemptive treatment with pregabalin conveyed a beneficial influence on functional and histologic cerebral outcome in rats undergoing 60 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest after cardiopulmonary bypass without any noticeable side effects.
THERM