HEAD-START 2: Supporting blood pressure during acute stroke to assist brain reperfusion

Dr Rudy Goh, University of Adelaide

2023 PhD Scholarships

Years funded: 2024 - 2028

In Acute Ischaemic Stroke, infarction occurs quickly in regions of profoundly reduced blood flow ('core') and progressively in regions of less severe hypoperfusion ('penumbra'). The key proven interventions to reduce progression to infarction is reperfusion, either by thrombolysis, or endovascular clot retrieval. Acute blood pressure augmentation with Metaraminol may improve cerebral blood flow sufficiently, either to prevent subsequent infarction, or at least to preserve brain tissue temporarily until reperfusion therapies can be administered. Using CT perfusion, we aim to investigate whether metaraminol improves cerebral perfusion by increasing systemic blood pressure. If proof of concept is demonstrated, this could lead to a trial of augmented blood pressure in patients undergoing long-distance transfer for reperfusion treatments, with radiological and clinical outcomes.