Induction and maintenance of in vivo ventricular fibrillation in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To provide new sustainable in vivo models of ventricular fibrillation in rabbits.


METHODS
New Zealand rabbits were submitted to anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation, after which ventricular fibrillation was induced through electrical stimulation (for 2min at 100Hz, with 2-ms pulses, 10mA, and 10V) directly to the heart. To that end, the animals were divided into two groups: right ventricle (n=11) and left ventricle (n=11). In group right ventricle, the thoracic cavity was exposed, and a catheter was introduced into the right ventricle via the right jugular vein. In group left ventricle, the thorax remained closed, and the catheter was introduced into the left ventricle via the left common carotid artery (cervical access).


RESULTS
Sustained ventricular fibrillation was achieved in 100% of group right ventricle rabbits (n=11) and in 82% of group left ventricle rabbits (n=9).


CONCLUSIONS
Both models proved appropriate for achieving sustained ventricular fibrillation. However, in view of the invasiveness of the procedure adopted in group right ventricle, the experimental conditions used in group left ventricle seemed more physiological and more effective in inducing sustained ventricular fibrillation.
Oriente
Victor
V
Research Laboratory, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455 sala 2350, São Paulo, SP-01246-903, Brazil.
Koike
Marcia Kyiomi
MK
Coutinho
Meriangela Pereira
MP
Velasco
Irineu Tadeu
IT
Scalabrini-Neto
Augusto
A
D000818:Animals; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*