There has been some evidence to support the use of short-duration hyperventilation prior to ETS. A comprehensive randomized study undertaken by Kerr et al. (1997) supports the effectiveness of controlled short-duration hyperventilation on blunting the increase of ICP during ETS. They concluded that hyperventilating patients at 30 breaths per minute reduced arterial CO2 levels, causing a temporary vasoconstriction of cerebral blood flow; this led to less ETS-induced elevations in ICP, yet maintained cerebral perfusion. However, Kerr et al. (1997) questions whether this practice is neuroprotective, especially to areas of the brain that are already ischaemia. They recommend that further research be undertaken on the impact of short-term hyperventilation and its effect on cerebral blood flow and oxygenation before any changes in
routine practice are implemented.