Method and composition for alleviating or preventing ischemic tissue damage

1. A method for increasing collateral circulation in a patient comprising:

providing a pharmaceutically acceptable synthetic cerebrospinal fluid comprising a density-altering agent, wherein the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid has a density different from a density of naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid, and wherein the density-altering agent comprises about 5 to about 8.25 percent by volume of dextrose;

mixing a vasodilator with the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid; placing the patient in a head-down position, wherein the vasodilator is selected from at least one member of the group consisting of nitroglycerine, nitroprusside, a nitroprusside salt, sodium nitroprusside, arginine, and mixtures thereof, and

administering said synthetic cerebrospinal fluid to an intrathecal space of the patient using a lumbar access point to access said intrathecal space, wherein the density of the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid is sufficient to enable the spread of the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid throughout the brain of the patient.

2. A method for treating an individual suspected of having a cerebrovascular event comprising:

providing a quantity of synthetic cerebrospinal fluid having a density different from the density of the individual's naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid, wherein the quantity of synthetic cerebrospinal fluid comprises a density-altering agent comprising about 5 to about 8.25 percent by volume of dextrose;

mixing a vasodilator with the quantity of synthetic cerebrospinal fluid to form a synthetic cerebrospinal fluid vasodilator mixture, wherein vasodilator comprises nitroglycerine, nitroprusside, a nitroprusside salt, sodium nitroprusside, arginine, and mixtures thereof;

placing the individual in a Trendelenburg position; and

administering the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid vasodilator mixture to an intrathecal space of the individual.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the density of the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid is greater than the density of the individual's naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the density of the synthetic cerebrospinal fluid is less than the density of the individual's naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising establishing a path for communication of the mixture to the individual's subarachnoid space.

6. A method for treating or inhibiting ischemic damage comprising:

providing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier fluid having a first density, said first density being different than a specific density of a patient's naturally-occurring cerebrospinal fluid, wherein the carrier fluid comprises a density-altering agent comprising about 5 to about 8.25 percent by volume of dextrose;

mixing a vasodilator with the said carrier fluid, wherein the vasodilator is selected from at least one member of the group consisting of nitroglycerine, nitroprusside, a nitroprusside salt, sodium nitroprusside, arginine, and mixtures thereof; and

administering said carrier fluid to an intrathecal space of a patient placed in a Trendelenburg position; wherein said first density of said carrier fluid facilitates transfusion of the vasodilator throughout the intrathecal space of the patient.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the vasodilator is present in amounts from about 0.25 mg/ml to about 4 mg/ml.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the carrier fluid has an acidic pH.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the carrier fluid further comprises a neuroprotectant.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the neuroprotectant comprises spin trap agents, free radical scavengers, or anti-inflammatory agents.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises administering the carrier fluid to the intrathecal space of the patient using a lumbar access point to reach the intrathecal space.