Abdominal compressions do not achieve similar survival rates compared with chest compressions: an experimental study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to investigate whether abdominal compression cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) would result in similar survival rates and neurologic outcome than chest compression CPR in a swine model of cardiac arrest.


METHODS
Forty Landrace/Large White piglets were randomized into 2 groups: group A (n = 20) was resuscitated using chest compression CPR, and group B (n = 20) was resuscitated with abdominal compression CPR. Ventricular fibrillation was induced with a pacemaker catheter, and animals were left untreated for 8 minutes. Abdominal and chest compressions were applied with a mechanical compressor. Defibrillation was then attempted.


RESULTS
Neuron-specific enolase and S-100 levels were significantly higher in group B. Ten animals survived for 24 hours in group A in contrast to only 3 animals in group B (P < .05). Neurologic alertness score was worse in group B compared with group A.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal compression CPR does not improve survival and neurologic outcome in this swine model of cardiac arrest and CPR.
Xanthos
Theodoros
T
Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, University of Athens Medical School, Greece.
Bassiakou
Eleni
E
Dontas
Ismene
I
Pantazopoulos
Ioannis
I
Lelovas
Pavlos
P
Kouskouni
Evangelia
E
Papadimitriou
Lila
L
D000005:Abdomen; D000818:Animals; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate; D013552:Swine; D013909:Thorax