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Biomedical subjects

Y Leonov

Publications and source records attributed to Y Leonov.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Resuscitative hypothermia.

Resuscitative (postinsult) hypothermia is less well studied than protective-preservative (pre- and intra-arrest) hypothermia. The latter is in wide clinical use, particularly for protecting the brain during cardiac surgery. Resuscitative hypothermia was explored in the 1950s and then lay dormant until the 1980s when it was revived. This change occurred through the discoveries of brain damage mitigating effects after cardiac arrest in dogs, and after forebrain ischemia in rats, of mild (34 degrees C) hypothermia (which is safe), and of benefits derived from moderate hypothermia (30 degrees C) after traumatic brain injury or focal brain ischemia in various species. The idea that protection-preservation or resuscitation by hypothermia is mainly explained by its ability to reduce cerebral oxygen demand has been replaced by an increasingly documented synergism of many beneficial mechanisms. Deleterious chemical cascades during and after these insults are suppressed even by mild hypothermia. Prolonged moderate hypothermia carries some risks, e.g., arrhythmias, infection and coagulopathies. These side effects need further study. In global brain ischemia, protective-preservative mild hypothermia provides lasting mitigation of brain damage. Resuscitative mild hypothermia, however, may be beneficial in terms of long-term outcome or may merely delay the inevitable loss of selectively vulnerable neurons. Even if the latter is true, mild hypothermia may extend the therapeutic window for other interventions. This extension of the therapeutic window requires further documentation. After normothermic cardiac arrest of 11 mins in dogs, mild resuscitative hypothermia from 15 mins to 12 hours after reperfusion plus cerebral blood flow promotion normalized functional recovery with the least histologic damage seen thus far. Optimal duration of, and rewarming methods from, resuscitative hypothermia need clarification. The earliest possible induction of mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest seems desirable. Head-neck surface cooling alone is too slow. Among many clinically feasible rapid cooling methods, carotid cold flush and peritoneal cooling look promising. After traumatic brain injury or focal brain ischemia, which seem to still benefit from even later cooling, surface cooling methods may be adequate. Resuscitative hypothermia after cardiac arrest, traumatic brain injury, or focal brain ischemia should be considered for clinical trials.

Animals↗

[Endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in severe asthma].

Retrospective analysis of all patients with acute bronchial asthma who required intubation and mechanical ventilation was performed in 1987-1993. Our study group comprised 29 patients with a total of 31 episodes of mechanical ventilation. Indications for intubation and ventilation were cardio-respiratory arrest in 9 episodes, and deterioration of clinical status despite aggressive therapy in 22 episodes. Mechanical ventilation strategy was to avoid high air-way pressures of more than 50 cm H2O even if respiratory acidosis persisted. The risk of barotrauma was thus eliminated; other complications were few and reversible, and all patients survived. We conclude that intubation and mechanical ventilation in severe asthma is beneficial and safe, and the prognosis very good.

Asthma↗

Regional prevalence and distribution of ischemic neurons in dog brains 96 hours after cardiac arrest of 0 to 20 minutes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In this established outcome model of cardiac arrest in dogs, we have used total (summed regional) brain histopathologic damage scores. The present study describes the regional progression of necrotic (ischemic) neuron prevalence with increasing duration of cardiac arrest. It tests the hypothesis that increases in the total prevalence of necrotic neurons better correspond to increasing arrest duration and better correlate with neurological deficit than do any individual regional scores. METHODS: Blinded evaluation with light microscopy was used to score the prevalence (five categories) and note the distribution of necrotic neurons in dog brains 96 hours after normothermic ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest followed by standard reperfusion and control of extracerebral variables. Six coronal brain sections including 19 regions were examined from dogs subjected to 0 (n = 2), 5 (n = 5), 10 (n = 6), 12.5 (n = 12), 15 (n = 8), 17 (n = 5), or 20 (n = 1) minutes of cardiac arrest. Dogs were neurologically evaluated before death. RESULTS: Necrotic neurons were widespread and scattered among normal neurons. Individual regions varied in their sensitivity to different durations of cardiac arrest. There were consistent increases in the mean prevalence of necrotic neurons with increased arrest duration in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and for cerebellar granule neurons. Regionally, the caudate nucleus had the best correlation with clinical neurological deficit (rho = +.85, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with total (summed regional) necrotic neuron prevalence scores, increased regional prevalence scores for cerebellar granule neurons with increasing arrest duration were equally significant, and scores for the caudate nucleus had nearly the same correlation with individual clinical neurological deficit.

Animals↗

Acute subdural hematoma following disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with an obstetric catastrophe.

The clinical, laboratory, radiological and operative recordings of a patient with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) related to therapeutic abortion is reported. During a comatose state following respiratory arrest, anisocoria with right dilated unreactive pupil and decerebration signs appeared. A brain CT scan showed a right frontotemporal hemorrhage. On surgical intervention a subdural hematoma was found and removed. The patient remained in a persistent vegetative state. The rarity of subdural hematoma complicating DIC is presented and the causes of intracranial bleeding in obstetrics are reviewed.

Abortion, Therapeutic↗

Cerebral and systemic arteriovenous oxygen monitoring after cardiac arrest. Inadequate cerebral oxygen delivery.

BACKGROUND: After prolonged cardiac arrest, under controlled normotension, cardiac output and cerebral blood flow are reduced for several hours. This dog study documents for the first time the postarrest reduction in oxygen (O2) delivery in relation to O2 uptake for brain and entire organism. METHODS: In eight dogs we used our model of ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest of 12.5 min, reperfusion with brief cardiopulmonary bypass, and controlled normotension, normoxemia, and mild hypocapnia to 24 h. RESULTS: Between 4 and 24 h after cardiac arrest, cardiac output decreased by about 25% and the systemic arteriovenous O2 content difference doubled, while the calculated systemic O2 utilization coefficient (O2 UC) increased and the systemic venous PO2 decreased, both not to critical levels. The cerebral arteriovenous O2 content difference however, which was 5.6 +/- 1.7 ml/dl before arrest, increased between 1 and 18 h, to 10.8 +/- 3.2 ml/dl at 4 h. The cerebral O2 UC increased and the cerebral venous PO2 decreased, both to critical levels. CONCLUSIONS: After prolonged cardiac arrest in dogs with previously fit hearts, the reduction of O2 transport to the brain is worse than its reduction to the whole organism. Monitoring these values might help in titrating life-support therapies.

Animals↗

Mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest in dogs does not affect postarrest cerebral oxygen uptake/delivery mismatching.

PURPOSE: To compare measurements of cerebral arteriovenous oxygen content differences (oxygen extraction ratios, oxygen utilization coefficients) in dogs after cardiac arrest, resuscitated under normothermia vs. mild hypothermia for 1-2 h or 12 h. METHODS: In 20 dogs, we used our model of ventricular fibrillation (no blood flow) of 12.5 min, reperfusion with brief cardiopulmonary bypass, and controlled ventilation, normotension, normoxemia, and mild hypocapnia to 24 h. We compared a normothermic control Group I (37.5 degrees C) (n = 8); with brief mild hypothermia in Group II (core and tympanic membrane temperature about 34 degrees C during the first hour after arrest) (n = 6); and with prolonged mild hypothermia in Group III (34 degrees C during the first 12 h after arrest) (n = 6). RESULTS: In Group I, the cerebral arteriovenous O2 content difference was 5.6 +/- 1.6 ml/dl before arrest; was low during reperfusion (transient hyperemia) and increased (worsened) significantly to 8.8 +/- 2.8 ml/dl at 1 h, remained increased until 18 h, and returned to baseline levels at 24 h after reperfusion. These values were not significantly different in hypothermic Groups II and III. The cerebral venous (saggital sinus) PO2 (PssO2) was about 40 mmHg (range 29-53) in all three groups before arrest and decreased significantly below baseline values, between 1 h and 18 h after arrest; the lowest mean values were 19 +/- 19 mmHg in Group I, 15 +/- 8 in Group II (NS), and 21 +/- 3 in Group III (NS). Postarrest PssO2 values of < or = 20 mmHg were found in 6/8 dogs in Group I, 5/6 in Group II and 4/6 in Group III. Among the 120 values of PssO2 measured between 1 h and 18 h after arrest, 32 were below the critical value of 20 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: After prolonged cardiac arrest, critically low cerebral venous O2 values suggest inadequate cerebral O2 delivery. Brief or prolonged mild hypothermia after arrest does not mitigate the postarrest cerebral O2 uptake/delivery mismatching.

Animals↗

Critically ill obstetrical patients: outcome and predictability.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the applicability of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scoring system in predicting outcome in a subgroup of critically ill obstetrical patients. DESIGN: Retrospective data collection. SETTING: A multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) in a university hospital. PATIENTS: All patients (n = 1,670) admitted for > 24 hrs to the ICU during an 8-yr period, of whom 58 were obstetrical patients and 120 were nonobstetrical young women. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The mean APACHE II score in the obstetrical group was 11, with a mortality risk of 16.6%. In this group, the mortality ratio, which is the ratio between actual and predicted mortality rate, was low (0.416) and significantly (p = .021) different from the expected mortality ratio of 1. The mean APACHE II score in the group of nonobstetrical young women was 10, with a mortality risk of 10.17%. In all nonobstetrical ICU patients including all the admitted patients excluding the obstetrical patients, the mean APACHE II score was 15, with a mortality risk of 24.18%. The mortality ratio in the nonobstetrical young women group and in the nonobstetrical ICU patient group was 0.986 and 1.006, respectively, which was nonsignificantly different from the expected mortality ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetrical patients requiring intensive care in our ICU had a better outcome than predicted, as expressed by a low mortality ratio. Various explanations that may be applicable to any subgroup of critically ill patients with a different mortality ratio are presented. The subgroup itself may be uniquely different, similar to our obstetrical patients with their physiologic changes of pregnancy. Another explanation may relate to an improvement in care of the subgroup and therefore a better outcome.

Critical Illness↗

Systematic development of cerebral resuscitation after cardiac arrest. Three promising treatments: cardiopulmonary bypass, hypertensive hemodilution, and mild hypothermia.

Since 1970 we have investigated postischemic anoxic encephalopathy and potential treatments for cerebral resuscitation after cardiac arrest by cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation (CPCR). The post-resuscitation syndrome has been studied at the levels of cell, organ, organism and community. Short-term and long-term models in rats, dogs, and monkeys have been developed, and an international multicenter randomized clinical trial mechanism was established. Clinical studies disproved the 5-min limit of reversible cardiac arrest and yielded other valuable data on treatments and prognostication. Thiopental loading or calcium entry blocker therapy (lidoflazine) gave no significant improvement in patients. Free radical scavengers are under investigation in the laboratory. We hypothesize that post-arrest perfusion failure and necrotizing cascades require etiology-specific combination treatments. Standard (control) therapy in a current dog model of cardiac arrest (no flow) of 12.5-20 min, reperfusion with cardiopulmonary bypass, and intensive care for 72-96 h has consistently resulted in survival with brain damage. After ventricular-fibrillation (VF) arrest of 17 min, moderate hypothermia (28-32 degrees C) inconsistently improved cerebral outcome. After VF arrest of 12.5 min, hypertension plus hemodilution normalized the local (multifocal) cerebral hypoperfusion post-arrest and, again, inconsistently improved cerebral outcome. Additional mild hypothermia (34-36 degrees C), however, consistently improved cerebral outcome, whether induced before or during and after arrest.

Animals↗

Detoxification with hemabsorption after cardiac arrest does not improve neurologic recovery. Review and outcome study in dogs.

We and others hypothesized that noxious substances released after prolonged cardiac arrest from malfunctioning liver, kidneys, or intestine (e.g. bacterial toxins, aromatic amino acids), might hamper recovery of the brain. The highly detoxifying effect of hemabsorption (i.e. hemoperfusion) with microencapsulated activated carbon has been demonstrated in other diseases. We used our dog model of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest of 15 min (n = 2 x 4) or 12.5 min (n = 2 x 6), reversed by brief (high flow) cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In half of the dogs in each insult group, a charcoal filter (HemoKart) was inserted into the circuit of CPB at low flow, from start of reperfusion to 4 h. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation was to 20 h and intensive care to 96 h after cardiac arrest. Bacterial blood cultures were positive in most of the dogs in both groups 30 min to 20 h after cardiac arrest (but not later) and were uninfluenced by hemabsorption. In the control groups to 4 h after cardiac arrest, serum levels of potentially injurious aromatic amino acids (e.g. phenylalanine, tyrosine) and of branched-chain/aromatic amino acid ratios, remained unchanged. From 12 to 48 h after cardiac arrest, aromatic amino acid levels increased (worsened). The branched-chain/aromatic amino acid ratios changed accordingly in the opposite direction. In the hemabsorption groups to 4 h after cardiac arrest, all amino acid levels were reduced, aromatic amino acids more so than branched-chain amino acids, thus increasing (improving) the ratio, compared with controls (P < 0.01). There was no group difference after discontinuance of hemabsorption at 4 h. Outcome in terms of overall performance categories and neurologic deficit scores from 24 to 96 h and brain histopathologic damage scores 96 h after cardiac arrest, were not significantly different between groups. The lack of a beneficial outcome effect of hemabsorption to 4 h after cardiac arrest does not support the self-intoxication hypothesis. The amino acid levels later after cardiac arrest suggest that more prolonged hemabsorption and more encompassing detoxification treatments, such as plasma phoresis or total body blood washout, might be evaluated.

Amino Acids↗

Mild hypothermia after cardiac arrest in dogs does not affect postarrest multifocal cerebral hypoperfusion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although mild resuscitative hypothermia (34 degrees C) immediately after cardiac arrest improves neurological outcome in dogs, its effects on cerebral blood flow and metabolism are unknown. METHODS: We used stable xenon-enhanced computed tomography to study local, regional, and global cerebral blood flow patterns up to 4 hours after cardiac arrest in dogs. We compared a normothermic (37.5 degrees C) control group (group I, n = 5) with a postarrest mild hypothermic group (group II, n = 5). After ventricular fibrillation of 12.5 minutes and reperfusion with brief cardiopulmonary bypass, the ventilation, normotension, normoxia, and mild hypocapnia were controlled to 4 hours after cardiac arrest. Group II received (minimal) head cooling during cardiac arrest, followed by systemic bypass cooling (to 34 degrees C) during the first hour of reperfusion after cardiac arrest. RESULTS: The postarrest homogeneous transient hyperemia was followed by global hypoperfusion from 1 to 4 hours after arrest, with increased "no-flow" and "trickle-flow" voxels (compared with baseline), without group differences. At 1 to 4 hours, mean global cerebral blood flow in computed tomographic slices was 55% of baseline in group I and 64% in group II (NS). No flow (local cerebral blood flow < 5 mL/100 cm3 per minute) occurred in 5 +/- 2% of the voxels in group I versus 9 +/- 5% in group II (NS). Trickle flow (5 to 10 mL/100 cm3 per minute) occurred in 10 +/- 3% voxels in group I versus 16 +/- 4% in group II (NS). Cerebral blood flow values in eight brain regions followed the same hyperemia-hypoperfusion sequence as global cerebral blood flow, with no significant difference in regional values between groups. The global cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen, which ranged between 2.7 and 4.5 mL/100 cm3 per minute before arrest in both groups, was at 1 hour after arrest 1.8 +/- 0.3 mL in normothermic group I (n = 3) and 1.9 +/- 0.4 mL is still-hypothermic group II (n = 5); at 2 and 4 hours after arrest, it ranged between 1.2 and 4.2 mL in group I and between 1.2 and 2.6 mL in group II. CONCLUSIONS: After cardiac arrest, mild resuscitative hypothermia lasting 1 hour does not significantly affect patterns of cerebral blood flow and oxygen uptake. This suggests that different mechanisms may explain its mitigating effect on brain damage.

Animals↗

[Central venous catheterization via the axillary vein].

Central venous catheterization is a common procedure in the intensive care unit. The vessels usually selected for access include those of the arm and the external and internal jugular, subclavian and femoral veins. We find the axillary vein also suitable. It is a safe and reliable route with few complications, and is especially recommended in ventilated and/or tracheotomized patients. We describe our experience in 80 patients, with a success rate of 90% and very few complications.

Axillary Vein↗

Hypertension with hemodilution prevents multifocal cerebral hypoperfusion after cardiac arrest in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Improved neurological outcome with postarrest hypertensive hemodilution in an earlier study could be the result of more homogeneous cerebral perfusion and improved O2 delivery. We explored global, regional, and local cerebral blood flow by stable xenon-enhanced computed tomography and global cerebral metabolism in our dog cardiac arrest model. METHODS: Ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest of 12.5 minutes was reversed by brief cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by life support to 4 hours postarrest. We compared control group I (n = 5; mean arterial blood pressure, 100 mm Hg; hematocrit, greater than or equal to 35%) with immediately postarrest reflow-promoted group II (n = 5; mean arterial blood pressure, 140-110 mm Hg; hypervolemic hemodilution with plasma substitute to hematocrit, 20-25%). RESULTS: After initial hyperemia in both groups, during the "delayed hypoperfusion phase" at 1-4 hours postarrest, global cerebral blood flow was 51-60% of baseline in group I versus 85-100% of baseline in group II (p less than 0.01). Percentages of brain tissue voxels with no flow, trickle flow, or low flow were lower (p less than 0.01) and mean regional cerebral blood flow values were higher in group II (p less than 0.01). Global cerebral oxygen uptake recovered to near baseline values at 3-4 hours postarrest in both groups. Postarrest arterial O2 content, however, in hemodiluted group II was 40-50% of that in group I. Thus, the O2 uptake/delivery ratio was increased (worsened) in both groups at 2-4 hours postarrest. CONCLUSIONS: After prolonged cardiac arrest, immediately induced moderate hypertensive hemodilution to hematocrit 20-25% can normalize cerebral blood flow patterns (improve homogeneity of cerebral perfusion), but does not improve cerebral O2 delivery, since the flow benefit is offset by decreased arterial O2 content. Individualized titration of hematocrit or hemodilution with acellular O2 carrying blood substitute (stroma-free hemoglobin or fluorocarbon solution) would be required to improve O2 uptake/delivery ratio.

Animals↗

Emergency cardiopulmonary bypass for resuscitation from prolonged cardiac arrest.

After cardiac arrest (no flow) of more than approximately 5 minutes' duration, standard external cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) basic, advanced, and prolonged life support (BLS, ALS, PLS) do not reliably produce cerebral and coronary perfusion pressures to maintain viability and achieve stable spontaneous normotension; nor do they provide prolonged control over pressure, flow, composition, and temperature of blood. Since these capabilities are often needed to achieve conscious survival, emergency closed-chest cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) by veno-arterial pumping via oxygenator is presented in this review as a potential addition to ALS-PLS for selected cases. In six dog studies by the Pittsburgh group (n = 221; 1982 through 1988), all 179 dogs that received CPB after prolonged cardiac arrest (no flow) or after CPR (low flow) states had restoration of stable spontaneous circulation. The use of CPB enhanced survival and neurological recovery over those achieved with CPR-ALS attempts only. With CPB and standard intensive care, it was possible to reverse normothermic ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest (no flow) of up to 15 minutes and to achieve survival without neurologic deficit; VF of 20 minutes to achieve survival but with neurologic deficit; and VF of 30 minutes to achieve transient restoration of spontaneous circulation followed by secondary cardiac death. CPB could restore stable spontaneous circulation after ice water submersion of up to 90 minutes. Other groups' laboratory and clinical results agree with these findings in general. Clinical feasibility trials are needed to work out logistic problems and to meet clinical challenges. Future possibilities for emergency CPB require further research and development.

Animals↗

Cardiac resuscitability with cardiopulmonary bypass after increasing ventricular fibrillation times in dogs.

Previous studies in dogs have shown resuscitation from prolonged cardiac arrest to conscious survival to be more effective with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) than with standard advanced cardiac life support. This study compared cardiovascular resuscitability with CPB only after varying periods of cardiac arrest without artificial circulatory support in a canine model. Group 1 (ten) was subjected to ventricular fibrillation for 15 minutes; group 2 (ten) for 20 minutes; and group 3 (ten) for 30 minutes. All received total CPB after ventricular fibrillation without advanced cardiac life support to defibrillation at two to five minutes and partial CPB to four hours. In all three groups CPB with epinephrine generated normal coronary perfusion pressure and increased ventricular fibrillation amplitude significantly. In groups 1 and 2, CPB reperfusion allowed for successful defibrillation in less than five minutes, weaning from CPB in all dogs at four hours, and stable spontaneous circulation thereafter. In group 3, only five of ten dogs could be weaned from bypass at four hours, and all died early with myocardial necroses. It was concluded that CPB may be of value in the setting of prolonged cardiac arrest when advanced cardiac life support has not been provided or is unable to restore spontaneous heart-beat.

Animals↗

Mild cerebral hypothermia during and after cardiac arrest improves neurologic outcome in dogs.

We previously found mild hypothermia (34-36 degrees C), induced before cardiac arrest, to improve neurologic outcome. In this study we used a reproducible dog model to evaluate mild hypothermia by head cooling during arrest, continued with systemic cooling (34 degrees C) during recirculation and for 1 h after arrest. In four groups of dogs, ventricular fibrillation (no flow) of 12.5 min at 37.5 degrees C was reversed with cardiopulmonary bypass and defibrillation in less than or equal to 5 min, and followed by controlled ventilation to 20 h and intensive care to 96 h. In Study A we resuscitated with normotension and normal hematocrit; Control Group A-I (n = 12) was maintained normothermic, while Treatment Group A-II (n = 10) was treated with hypothermia. In Study B we resuscitated with hypertension and hemodilution. Control Group B-I (n = 12) was maintained normothermic (6 of 12 were not hemodiluted), while Treatment Group B-II (n = 10) was treated with hypothermia. Best overall performance categories (OPCs) achieved between 24 and 96 h postarrest were in Group A-I: OPC 1 (normal) in 0 of 12 dogs, OPC 2 (moderate disability) in 2, OPC 3 (severe disability) in 7, and OPC 4 (coma) in 3 dogs. In Group A-II, OPC 1 was achieved in 5 of 10 dogs (p less than 0.01), OPC 2 in 4 (p less than 0.001), OPC 3 in 1, and OPC 4 in 0 dogs. In Group B-I, OPC 1 was achieved in 0 of 12 dogs, OPC 2 in 6, OPC 3 in 5, and OPC 4 in 1 dog. In Group B-II, OPC 1 was achieved in 6 of 10 dogs (p less than 0.01), OPC 2 in 4 (p less than 0.05), and OPC 3 or 4 in 0 dogs. Mean neurologic deficit and brain histopathologic damage scores showed similar significant group differences. Morphologic myocardial damage scores were the same in all four groups. We conclude that mild brain cooling during and after insult improves neurologic outcome after cardiac arrest.

Animals↗

Moderate hypothermia after cardiac arrest of 17 minutes in dogs. Effect on cerebral and cardiac outcome.

Moderate hypothermia (30 degrees C) induced before circulatory arrest is known to improve neurologic outcome. We explored, for the first time in a reproducible dog outcome model, moderate hypothermia induced during reperfusion after cardiac arrest (resuscitation). In three groups of six dogs each (N = 18), normothermic ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest (no blood flow) of 17 minutes was reversed by cardiopulmonary bypass--normothermic in control group I (37.5 degrees C) and hypothermic to 3 hours in groups II (32 degrees C) and III (28 degrees C). Defibrillation was achieved in less than or equal to 5 minutes and partial bypass was continued to 4 hours, controlled ventilation to 20 hours, and intensive care to 96 hours. All 18 dogs survived. Electroencephalographic activity returned significantly earlier in groups II and III. Mean +/- SD best neurologic deficit between 48 and 96 hours was 44 +/- 8% in group I, 38 +/- 12% in group II, and 35 +/- 7% in group III (differences not significant). Best overall performance category 2 (good outcome) between 48 and 96 hours was achieved in none of the six dogs in group I and in four of the 12 dogs in the combined hypothermic groups II and III (difference not significant). Mean +/- SD brain total histologic damage score was 130 +/- 22 in group I, 93 +/- 28 in group II (p = 0.05), and 80 +/- 26 in group III (p = 0.03). Gross myocardial damage was greater in groups II and III than in group I--numerically higher overall and significantly higher in group III for the right ventricle alone (p = 0.02). Moderate hypothermia after prolonged cardiac arrest may or may not improve cerebral outcome slightly and can worsen myocardial damage.

Animals↗

Hypertension with or without hemodilution after cardiac arrest in dogs.

We studied blood flow-promoting therapies after cardiac arrest in 18 dogs. Our model consisted of ventricular fibrillation (no blood flow) lasting 12.5 minutes, controlled reperfusion with cardiopulmonary bypass and defibrillation within 5 minutes, controlled intermittent positive-pressure ventilation to 20 hours, and intensive care to 96 hours. Group I (control, n = 6) dogs were reperfused under conditions of normotension (mean arterial blood pressure 100 mm Hg) and normal hematocrit (greater than or equal to 35%). Group II (n = 6) and III (n = 6) dogs were treated with norepinephrine at the beginning of reperfusion to induce hypertension for 4 hours. In addition, group III dogs received hypervolemic hemodilution to a hematocrit of 20% using dextran 40. There were no differences in the time to recovery of electroencephalographic activity among groups. All six group I dogs remained severely disabled; in groups II and III combined, six of the 12 dogs achieved good outcome (p less than 0.01). Some regional histopathologic damage scores at 96 hours were better in groups II and/or III than in group I (neocortex: p less than 0.05 group II different from group I; hippocampus: p less than 0.01 both groups II and III different from group I). Total histopathologic damage scores were similar among the groups. A hypertensive bout with a peak mean arterial blood pressure of greater than or equal to 200 mm Hg beginning 1-5 minutes after the start of reperfusion was correlated with good outcome (p less than 0.01). Our results support the use of an initial bout of severe hypertension, but not the use of delayed hemodilution.

Animals↗