title: The natural biochemical changes during ventricular fibrillation with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the onset of postdefibrillation pulseless electrical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to document the biochemical changes during ventricular fibrillation (VF) with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and to identify factors associated with postdefibrillation pulseless electrical activity (PD-PEA).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  It has been reliably estimated that as much as 60% of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death can be attributed to the onset of PD-PEA (Niemann JT, Cruz B, Garner D et al. Immediate countershock versus CPR before countershock in a 5-minute swine model of ventricular fibrillation arrest. Ann Emerg Med 2000;36:543-6). Previous attempts to treat reversible causes of pulseless electrical activity have not been successful clinically (Niemann JT, Stratton SJ, Cruz B, Lewis RJ. Outcome of out-of-hospital postcountershock asystole and pulseless electrical activity versus primary asystole and pulseless electrical activity. Crit Care Med 2001;29:2366-70).
  
  
  METHODS
  This investigation used 22 studies on 14 anesthetized pigs breathing 100% oxygen. Ventricular fibrillation was induced with a right ventricular catheter electrode, and the chest was compressed with a pneumatically driven Chest Thumper (Michigan Instruments) (80-100 lb at 60/min). The electrocardiogram and aortic pressure were recorded continuously. Arterial pH, P(O2), P(CO2), Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl-, SaO2, glucose, hematocrit, and hemoglobin level were measured at selected times. Ventricular defibrillation was achieved with transchest electrodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Typically, during VF with CPR, mean aortic pressure was 20 to 25 mm Hg. In all cases aortic P(O2) decreased to about 20% of the initial value in 10 minutes, and aortic blood K+ increased by 50% in 6 minutes. By 5 to 8 minutes, the incidence of PD-PEA was 50%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ventricular fibrillation duration, arterial K+, and arterial P(CO2) were statistically correlated with the onset of PD-PEA in this study. In addition, trends suggest an association of mean arterial blood pressure and arterial P(O2) with the onset of PD-PEA.
authors.affiliation: Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2022, USA. geddes@ecn.purdue.edu
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Geddes
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Roeder
authors.forename: Ann E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rundell
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Otlewski
authors.forename: Andre E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kemeny
authors.forename: Aaron E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Lottes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011674:Pulse; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013552:Swine; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002712:Chlorides; D006454:Hemoglobins; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium