Objective To investigate different gases and hematocrits on cerebral injury during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) in a piglet model including monitoring by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Methods Twenty-four piglets were assigned to 4 groups with respect to different blood gas and hematocrit during DHCA. Group A: hematocrit was maintained between 0.25 to 0.30, pH-stat strategy during cooling phases and alpha stat strategy in other phases; group B: hematocrit was maintained between 0.25 to 0.30 and alpha stat strategy; group C: hematocrit was maintained between 0.20 to 0.25, pH-stat strategy during cooling phases and alpha stat strategy in other phases; group D: hematocrit was maintained between 0.20 to 0.25 and alpha stat strategy. Cerebral oxygenations of piglets were monitored continuously by NIRS. The brain was fixed in situ at 6 hours after operation and a histological score for neurological injury was assessed. Results Oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) and total hemoglobin (HbT) signals detected by NIRS were significantly lower in group D than those in group A and group B during cooling (Plt;0.05). Oxygenated hemoglobin nadir time was significantly shorter in group A(Plt;0.05). All piglets with oxygenated hemoglobin signal nadir time less than 25 minutes were free from histological evidence of brain injury. Conclusion Combination of pH-stat strategy and higher hematocrit reduces neurological injury after DHCA.