Point/counterpoint: Cerebrovascular resistance is a flawed concept

Abstract

The relationship between cerebral blood flow and blood pressure is a critical part of investigation of cerebral autoregulation. Conventionally, cerebrovascular resistance (CVR) has been used to describe this relationship, but the underlying principles used for this method is flawed in real-world application for several reasons. Despite this, the use of CVR remains entrenched within current literature. This ‘Point/Counterpoint’ review provides a summary of the flaws in using CVR and explains the benefits of calculating the more accurate critical closing pressure (CrCP) and resistance-area product (RAP) parameters, with support of real-world data.