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PubMed2002

Mild hypothermia induced before cardiac arrest reduces brain edema formation in rats.

OBJECTIVES: The mechanisms by which hypothermia improves cardiac arrest (CA)-induced brain damage are unclear. The authors hypothesized that mild hypothermia induced before CA attenuates brain edema formation by preventing neutrophil-mediated dysfunction of the endothelial cell junction proteins. METHODS: Eighteen rats were randomized to normal control surgery (group 1, n = 6), normothermic (37.5 degrees C) CA (group 2, n = 6), or hypothermic (34 degrees C) CA (group 3, n = 6). Hypothermia was induced with external cooling before CA in group 3. Cardiac arrest was induced by 8 minutes of asphyxiation. Brain edema was determined by wet-to-dry weight ratio and cerebral spinal fluid pressure (CSFP). Brain neutrophil content was determined by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and occludin degradation was assessed by western blotting. RESULTS: Normothermic CA significantly increased brain wet-to-dry weight ratio from 4.52 +/- 0.04 in group 1 to 4.80 +/- 0.04 in group 2 (p = 0.0003) and CSFP from 3.6 +/- 0.9 in group 1 to 8.9 +/- 0.9 mm Hg in group 2 (p = 0.004). Mild hypothermia before CA in group 3 significantly reduced brain wet-to-dry weight ratio (4.68 +/- 0.03, p = 0.008 vs. group 2) and CSFP (3.8 +/- 0.5 mm Hg, p = 0.004 vs. group 2). Cardiac arrest increased brain MPO from 0.07 +/- 0.025 in group 1 to 0.16 +/- 0.02 units/gram brain weight in group 2 (p = 0.006) that was not decreased by hypothermia before CA (0.12 +/- 0.02 in group 3 (p = 0.07 vs. group 2). There was no occludin proteolysis in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Mild hypothermia before CA decreases CA-induced brain edema. The hypothermia-elicited reduction in brain edema does not appear to be neutrophil-dependent and the early brain edema formation may not involve the proteolysis of occludin.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

Serum neuron-specific enolase as early predictor of outcome after cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the prognostic value of serum neuron-specific enolase for early prediction of outcome in patients at risk for anoxic encephalopathy after cardiac arrest. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Coronary intensive care unit of the University of Heidelberg. PATIENTS: Forty-three patients (66.8 +/- 12.7 [SD] yrs, range 33 to 85) who had had either primary or secondary cardiac arrest, followed by cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). INTERVENTIONS: Serial blood samples and clinical examinations. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum neuron-specific enolase concentrations were determined after CPR on 7 consecutive days. Twenty-five patients remained comatose and subsequently died; 18 patients survived the first 3 months and had no relevant functional deficit at 3-month follow-up. Neuron-specific enolase concentrations were correlated with neurologic outcome. Concentrations of >33 ng/mL predicted persistent coma with a high specificity (100%) and a positive predictive value of 100%. Overall sensitivity was 80%, with a negative predictive value of 78%. Serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase exceeded this cutoff value no more than 3 days after cardiac arrest in 95% of patients in whom these concentrations had exceeded 33 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who have been resuscitated after cardiac arrest, serum neuron-specific enolase concentrations of >33 ng/mL predict persistent coma with a high specificity. Values below this cutoff level do not necessarily indicate complete recovery, because this method has a sensitivity of 80%.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Sudden cardiac arrest in intercollegiate athletes: detailed analysis and outcomes of resuscitation in nine cases.

BACKGROUND: Public access defibrillation programs have demonstrated a survival benefit in persons with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, little is known about the effectiveness of early defibrillation in young competitive athletes with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the details and outcomes of resuscitation in a cohort of intercollegiate athletes with SCA. METHODS: Nine cases of SCA in intercollegiate athletes occurring between 1999 and 2005 were identified through prior research and public media. A detailed questionnaire was completed by the certified athletic trainer involved in the resuscitation, and direct phone follow-up was achieved in every case. RESULTS: Nine intercollegiate athletes with SCA (4 basketball, 2 football, 2 lacrosse, and 1 swimming) had an average age of 21 years (range 18-30 years). All 9 athletes had a witnessed collapse, 7 occurred during practice, 1 during competition, and 1 during organized weight training. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated within 30 seconds after cardiac arrest in 6 cases and by 1 minute in 2 additional cases. An automated external defibrillator (AED) was provided by an athletic trainer in 5 cases and by arriving emergency medical services (EMS) in 4 cases. The initial cardiac rhythm was confirmed or suspected ventricular fibrillation in 7 athletes, pulseless idioventricular rhythm in 1 case, and unknown in 1 case. In 7 cases a shock was deployed, with an average time from cardiac arrest to defibrillation of 3.1 minutes (range 1-7.5 minutes). The average time from arrest to defibrillation decreased significantly if an AED was provided by an athletic trainer as compared with the responding EMS (1.6 vs 5.2 minutes; P = .046). Eight of the 9 athletes died. The underlying cause of sudden cardiac death was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 5, commotio cordis in 2, and myocardial infarction in 1. Diagnostic studies in the survivor demonstrated no structural heart disease or precise cause of SCA. CONCLUSION: Despite witnessed collapse, immediate CPR, and prompt AED use in most cases, early defibrillation showed limited success, and survival was less than expected in this small cohort of intercollegiate athletes. More research is needed to determine the effectiveness of early defibrillation and factors that affect survival in young athletes with SCA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Paramedic programs and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: I. Factors associated with successful resuscitation.

As part of an evaluation of whether the addition of paramedic services can reduce mortality from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest compared to previously existing emergency medical technician (EMT) services, factors associated with successful resuscitation were studied. A surveillance system was established to identify cardiac arrest patients receiving emergency care and to collect pertinent information associated with the resuscitation. Outcomes (death, admission, and discharge) were compared in two areas with different types of prehospital emergency care (basic emergency medical technician services vs. paramedic services). During the period April 1976 through August 1977, 604 patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest received emergency resuscitation. Eighty-one per cent of these episodes were attributed to primary heart disease. Considered separately, four factors were found to have a significant association with higher admission and discharge rates :1) paramedic service, 2) rapid time to initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), 3) rapid time to definitive care, and 4) bystander-initiated CPR. Using multivariate analysis, rapid time to initiation of CPA and rapid time to definitive care were most predictive of admission and discharge. Age was also weakly predictive of discharge. These findings suggest that if reduction in mortality is to be maximized, cardiac arrest patients must have CPR initiated within four minutes and definitive care provided within ten minutes.

Allied Health Personnel↗
PubMed2001

[Evaluation of outcome of patients hospitalized after pre-hospital cardiac arrest].

The aim of this study was to assess management of patients resuscitated after pre-hospital cardiac arrest, initially indicated to preserve neurological status, the aetiological investigation only being undertaken when the outcome is favourable. Eighty-nine pre-hospital cardiac arrests were analysed retrospectively. The hospital survival was 16%, death being due to neurological lesions (55%), uncontrollable haemodynamic instability -39%) or other causes (7%). One year after the initial episode, none of the survivors had died, all living autonomously without (8 patients) or with minimal neurological sequellae (5 patients). These results are concordant with reports in the literature. The 11 cases of cardiac arrest with a favourable outcome of presumed cardiac origin underwent coronary angiography (6 cases) or endocavitary electrophysiological investigation (8 cases). These investigations showed or suggested an ischaemic process in 4 cases, an arrhythmia in 6 cases and severe valvular heart disease in 1 case. The independent predictive factors of survival were a Glasgow score of 6 or more on admission, the persistence of a light reflex and benign EEG appearances according to Synek's classification. The authors conclude that these results are comparable to those reported in the literature with aetiological investigations reserved for cases of favourable neurological outcome. The investigations including coronary angiography and electrophysiological investigation are essential as shown by the diversity of the cardiac pathologies identified.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Monitoring intervention programmes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a mixed urban and rural setting.

BACKGROUND: Only a few data are available on the survival rate following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in different Italian settings. We report an analysis of a 10-year experience in a mixed rural/urban setting, the main variables associated with survival, and the preliminary results of the implementation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) programme operated by lay volunteers on the effectiveness of the existing Emergency Medical Service (EMS). METHODS: We report data from an observational cohort study on all adults, resuscitated from witnessed cardiac arrest between 1994 and 2004 in the district area of Forlì (Italy). The AED programme was introduced in 2002. Entry variables, time intervals and nodal events were tested according to Utstein recommendations. The predictors of favourable outcomes (Overall Performance Category 1-2) were identified by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The witnessed cardiac arrest rate was 27/100,000 population per year (95% confidence interval, 18-38). The initial rhythm was shockable in 241/479 cases (50.3%). After resuscitation, 55 (11.5%) subjects had a favourable outcome at discharge and 38 (7.9%) at 1 year. Time-to-treatment was longer for EMS than for AED-equipped units (median, 8 min interquartile range, 6-10 (467 cases) versus 6 min interquartile range, 4-8 (13 cases); P<0.013), but the final results of the AED programme were poor, with only 1 subject saved/171,000 inhabitants in 2 years. Positive outcome predictors were male sex, younger age, shockable rhythms, low number of defibrillations, and no history of hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: Even in a mixed urban/rural setting, survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is dependent on well-known predictors. In our setting, the number of cases saved by an AED programme is limited when accompanied by an efficient traditional EMS. The allocation of resources to an AED programme should be reconsidered in a mixed rural/urban setting.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1978

[Myocardial stress of different surgically induced types of cardiac arrest in dogs evaluated by myocardial potassium and acid-base balance (author's transl)].

In mongrel dogs myocardial stress of the following types of artificial cardiac arrest in moderate hypothermia and cardiopulmonary bypass was compared: 1. Ischemic arrest after aortic occlusion lasting 30 or 45 minutes. 2. Injection-cardioplegia according to Kirsch lasting 90 minutes. 3. infusion-cardioplegia according to Bretschneider lasting 90 minutes. The following parameters were compared: extracellular potassium activity ([K+]e) during cardiac arrest and [K+] in arterial and coronary venous blood during reflow, total [K+] and acid-base balance during reflow, time course of [K+] and lactic acid release and uptake during reflow after cardiac arrest. In our experimental conditions the lowest alterations of myocardial [K+] and acid-base balance were observed after infusion-cardioplegia according to Bretschneider. Injection-cardioplegia according to Kirsch was less protective for the heart as evidenced by more intensive acidosis, enlarged [K+] loss and prolongation of [K+] uptake during reflow. Ischemic cardiac arrest in moderate hypothermia was the worst type of artificial standstill indicated by development of fatal myocardial acidosis.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed1993

Cardiac arrest presenting with rhythms other than ventricular fibrillation: contribution of resuscitative efforts toward total survivorship.

OBJECTIVE: The medical literature portrays a bleak prognosis for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases presenting with asystole, idioventricular rhythms with pulselessness, or primary electromechanical dissociation. In view of evolving philosophies to waive resuscitation attempts in such cases, we sought to delineate the actual contribution toward overall survivorship that is provided by resuscitation efforts for patients who have these electrocardiographic presentations. DESIGN: A prospective outcome study which analyzed all out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases in a large city for a 2-yr period in terms of presenting electrocardiogram, age, sex, presence and status of witnesses, performance of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and survival to successful hospital discharge. SETTING: A large urban municipality (population, two million) served by a single, centralized emergency medical services program. PATIENTS: Excluding cases associated with trauma, drugs, airway obstruction, submersion or primary respiratory illness, 2,404 consecutive adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients were studied. INTERVENTIONS: Standard advanced cardiac life support. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Although survival "rates" of patients with asystole, idioventricular rhythms with pulselessness, and electromechanical dissociation were low (1.6%, 4.7% and 6.9%, respectively), 22.2% of the 193 total survivors (confidence interval: +5.9%) initially presented with one of these electrocardiographic rhythms (14 asystole, 18 idioventricular rhythms with pulselessness, 10 electromechanical dissociation, plus one other). CONCLUSIONS: Despite poor survival "rates," resuscitative efforts for patients presenting with asystole, electromechanical dissociation, and idioventricular rhythms with pulselessness all contribute significantly toward a community's total survivorship from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Initial, aggressive attempts at resuscitation still should be emphasized in such patients.

Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm↗
PubMed2004

[Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest. A cold intravenous fluid, a cooling helmet and a cooling blanket efficiently reduce body temperature].

Two controlled randomized trials have shown that mild systemic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is beneficial for neurological outcome and one of the studies shows an improved survival rate. A pilot study was performed to evaluate a model of induced hypothermia after cardiac arrest, using cold intravenous fluids and surface cooling with a cold helmet and a coldwater blanket (Thermowrap). The main purpose was to evaluate our cooling method regarding efficacy, safety and usability. Five unconscious patients after cardiac arrest were treated with induced hypothermia of whom three survived with good recovery to six-month follow up. Two patients died in the ICU without regaining consciousness. There were no adverse events during treatment. We conclude that our method is reasonably fast compared to other published methods, it is easy to perform and it offers a good temperature control during cooling and rewarming. Routines for evaluating prognosis and neurological outcome after cardiac arrest and hypothermia treatment need to be revised.

Bedding and Linens↗
PubMed2003

Health-related quality of life is better for cardiac arrest survivors who received citizen cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the prehospital factors associated with better health-related quality of life for survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. METHODS AND RESULTS: This prospective, 20-community, cohort study involved consecutive, adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients who survived to 1 year. Patients were contacted by telephone and evaluated for the Health Utilities Index Mark III (HUI3), which describes health as a utility score on a scale from 0 (dead) to 1.0 (perfect health). The 8091 cardiac arrest patients had overall survival rates of 5.2% to hospital discharge and 4.0% to 1 year. We successfully contacted and evaluated 268 of 316 (84.8%) of known 1-year survivors. The median HUI3 score was 0.80 (interquartile range, 0.50 to 0.97), which compares well with age-adjusted values for the general population (0.83). Logistic regression identified 2 factors independently associated with very good quality of life (HUI3 >0.90) and their odds ratios (95% CIs), as follows: age 80 years or older, 0.3 (0.1 to 0.84), and citizen-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), 2.0 (1.2 to 3.4) (Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistic, 0.74). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the largest ever conducted for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors, clearly shows that these patients have good quality of life, and is the first to demonstrate that citizen-initiated CPR is strongly and independently associated with better quality of life. These results emphasize the importance of optimizing community citizen CPR readiness. Given the low rate of citizen-initiated CPR in many communities, we believe that local and national initiatives should vigorously promote the practice of bystander CPR.

Aged↗
PubMed1978

Cytology of human cerebro-spinal fluid after cardiac arrest.

The cytology of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (obtained by suboccipital puncture) from patients after cardiac arrest was investigated by means of the cytocentrifugation method. In patients with unsuccessful resuscitation an increased number of monocytes and macrophages was found immediately after abandoned resuscitation. A pronounced increase in the number of granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages was found in patients with poor neurologic restitution. The increase in the number of macrophages was seen immediately after cardiac arrest. The granulocyte increase was most pronounced after 24 h. The CSF from patients with full neurologic restitution after cardiac arrest showed small numbers of lymphocytes and granulocytes and an equal amount of monocytes and macrophages. The findings indicate that monocytes/macrophages appear in the cisternal fluid shortly after anoxic/ischemic damage to the brain and that the increase of macrophages and later granulocytes probably is a result of damage to brain tissue.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗
PubMed1988

Use of the automatic external defibrillator in the management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The automatic external defibrillator is a simple device that can be used by nonprofessional rescuers to treat cardiac arrest. In 1287 consecutive patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, we assessed the results of initial treatment with this device by firefighters who arrived first at the scene, as compared with the results of standard defibrillation administered by paramedics who arrived slightly after the firefighters. Of 276 patients who were initially treated by firefighters using the automatic defibrillator, 84 (30 percent) survived to hospital discharge (expected rate according to a logistic model, 17 percent; P less than 0.001), as compared with 44 (19 percent) of 228 patients when fire-fighters delivered only basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the first defibrillation was performed after the arrival of the paramedic team. Few patients with conditions other than ventricular fibrillation survived. In a multivariate analysis of characteristics that influenced survival after ventricular fibrillation, a better survival rate was related to a witnessed collapse (odds ratio, 3.9; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.0 to 7.6), younger age (odds ratio, 1.2; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.0 to 1.4), the presence of "coarse" (higher-amplitude) fibrillation (odds ratio, 4.2; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.6 to 11.0), a shorter response time for paramedics (odds ratio, 1.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.0 to 2.1), and initial treatment by firefighters using an automatic external defibrillator (odds ratio, 1.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.1 to 2.9). These findings support the widespread use of the automatic external defibrillator as an important part of the treatment of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, although the overall impact of the use of this device on community survival rates is still uncertain.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the treatment of asphyxial or fibrillatory cardiac arrest in a porcine model.

Many animal experiments have shown that alpha-receptor stimulation is a prerequisite for the improvement of myocardial perfusion during CPR. As there are no recent reports on the effectiveness of norepinephrine in the treatment of cardiac arrest, we investigated the effectiveness of epinephrine and norepinephrine after asphyxial or ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest using a porcine model. After 3 min of asphyxial cardiac arrest, seven animals each received either 45 micrograms/kg epinephrine, 45 micrograms/kg norepinephrine, or placebo (controls). All drugs were given blind. All seven animals given epinephrine could be resuscitated after 174 +/- 53 sec, whereas six of seven given norepinephrine could be resuscitated after 473 +/- 116 sec. None of the seven given the placebo could be resuscitated. After 4 min of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, none of the seven animals that received defibrillating countershocks at 4 min without either mechanical measures or drug therapy, and none of the seven that received CPR and countershocks but no drugs, could be resuscitated. In the group that received CPR plus 45 micrograms/kg epinephrine, defibrillation and restoration of spontaneous circulation were achieved in six of seven animals in 667 +/- 216 sec. In the group that received CPR plus 45 micrograms/kg norepinephrine, defibrillation and restoration of spontaneous circulation were achieved in all seven animals in the significantly shorter time of 86 +/- 18 sec. In this porcine model, norepinephrine appeared superior to the same dose of epinephrine in the treatment of ventricular fibrillation, with respect to resuscitation time.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Epidemiology of cardiac arrest and resuscitation in a suburban community.

A surveillance system identified all out-of-hospital victims of cardiac arrests who received emergency aid in King County, Washington, as well as the etiologic condition and cardiac rhythm causing each arrest. During an 18-month period, 649 cardiac arrests occurred (annual incidence 7.2/10,000). Primary heart disease was the cause in 81%. Ventricular fibrillation was the associated rhythm in 57% of cardiac arrests. Based upon the incidence of cardiac arrest in the community and the likelihood of resuscitation under optimal conditions, we estimate the maximum incidence of lives saved to be 2.0/10,000 annually.

Heart Arrest↗
PubMed1998

[Vancomycin and cardiac arrest in the infant].

BACKGROUND: Different adverse effects induced by vancomycin bolus infusion are described, but cardiac arrest seems rare, in children as in adults. CASE REPORT: Two infants, 5 and 12 months old, were admitted after cardiac arrest, following vancomycin bolus infusion in excessive dose. They recovered after prompt resuscitation and their short term follow-up was normal. CONCLUSION: Two mechanisms are invoked: anaphylactic shock and direct cardiovascular toxicity. Both are dose- and infusion rate-dependent, and probably intersubject dependent. Usually, cardiac arrest is promptly reversed by adequate resuscitation. The rules of prescription are: adequate dilution and slow rate of infusion. If any adverse effect occurred, preventive antihistaminic drug therapy should be advised.

Anaphylaxis↗
PubMed1995

Cardiac arrest during pregnancy: maternal-fetal physiology and advanced cardiac life support for the obstetric patient.

Although cardiac arrest in pregnancy is rare, all members of the healthcare team who care for pregnant women should be aware of the maternal adaptations of pregnancy. Also, more women with preexisting medical conditions are attempting pregnancy. Perinatal nurses, especially those practicing in level III (high-risk) perinatal centers should be trained in dysrhythmia recognition and ACLS protocols. Rapid intervention sometimes can save two lives.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Public access defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND: The dissemination and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) beyond traditional emergency medical services (EMS) into the community has not been fully evaluated. We evaluated the frequency and outcome of non-EMS AED use in a community experience. METHODS AND RESULTS: The investigation was a cohort study of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases due to underlying heart disease treated by public access defibrillation (PAD) between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2002, in Seattle and surrounding King County, Washington. Public access defibrillation was defined as out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated with AED application by persons outside traditional emergency medical services. The EMS of Seattle and King County developed a voluntary Community Responder AED Program and registry of PAD AEDs. During the 4 years, 475 AEDs were placed in a variety of settings, and more than 4000 persons were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED operation. A total of 50 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest were treated by PAD before EMS arrival, which represented 1.33% (50/3754) of all EMS-treated cardiac arrests. The proportion treated by PAD AED increased each year, from 0.82% in 1999 to 1.12% in 2000, 1.41% in 2001, and 2.05% in 2002 (P=0.019, test for trend). Half of the 50 persons treated with PAD survived to hospital discharge, with similar survival for nonmedical settings (45% [14/31]) and out-of-hospital medical settings (58% [11/19]). CONCLUSIONS: PAD was involved in only a small but increasing proportion of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the teaching of experience at the SAMU of Lyon.

Because of the improvement resuscitation techniques have shown since the 1960s and because of the development of the out-of-hospital medical care, a cardiac arrest is no longer synonymous with death in every case. However the cardiac arrest resuscitation is only relevant if its adverse consequences can be limited. That is mainly the neurological after-effects and the cellular anoxia. Therefore, the "Service d'Aide Medicale Urgente" (SAMU) of Lyon has been concentrating its research aiming at: (a) Shortening the duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to limit the cerebral anoxia. (b) Analysing and treating some of the causes responsible for the aggravation of anoxia. On the basis of several studies in Lyon, here are some suggestions: (1) The use of high doses of epinephrine that unables a better percentage of primary recoveries (47.5% vs. 39%) (P less than 0.05) and secondary recoveries (21.3% vs. 14.8%) (P less than 0.01) without modifying the qualitative survival at long term. (On the basis of: 5 mg intravenous bolus repeated every 3 min in case of asystole instead of 1 mg every 5 min as it is usually recommended). (2) The choice of a peripheral intravenous line instead of a central intravenous line each time it is possible for the administration of drugs since it is as efficient as the second one. (40.7% vs. 33.4%) (P:NS). (3) The alkalinisation of the prolonged cardiac arrest in order to keep the acid-base balance. Most of the survivors show a pH equal or superior to the normal standard. (On the basis of 1 mmol/kg of sodium bicarbonate if the cardiac arrest lasts for more than 10 min). (4) The abolition of the dextrose solution as maintaining infusion the patients who are in a "coma depasse" (brain death) after the resuscitation have an average glycemia superior to the survivors without after-effects. (19.7 vs. 14.8 mmol/l) (P less than 0.05). (5) The monitoring at once at the hospital of the intra-cranial pressure. It reveals the frequency of high pression at an early stage (superior to 15 mmHg in 51.1% of the cases) and the absence of favourable evolution in case of high intracranial pressure. At the moment the absence of consequences on the ICR of a calcium entry blocker (Nimodipine) is being studied. The first results do not seem to show any improvement of the cerebral survival. (6) The prophylactic treatment of septicemia with intestinal origin since they occur frequently and prove to be fatal.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗