Ischemic Neuronal Death

Cerebral hypoxia can be produced by various mechanisms, including focal vascular occlusion, global interruption of blood flow (cardiac arrest), respiratory arrest, glucose deprivation, near-drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other metabolic disorders. Irreversible cerebral damage occurs if blood flow is reduced below 10 ml/100 g tissue/ minute, or if flow is completely interrupted for more than a few minutes. Until recently, stoketherapy has been directed at measures to restore cerebral blood flow, under the supposition that restoring flow to an ischemic area within a critical time interval will reduce or prevent permanent damage.