title: Changes of end-tidal carbon dioxide during cardiopulmonary resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation versus asphyxial cardiac arrest.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) has been used to monitor the effectiveness of precordial compression (PC) and regarded as a prognostic value of outcomes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study was to investigate changes of PETCO2 during CPR in rats with ventricular fibrillation (VF) versus asphyxial cardiac arrest.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into an asphyxial group (n=32) and a VF group (n=30). PETCO2 was measured during CPR from a 6-minute period of VF or asphyxial cardiac arrest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial values of PETCO2 immediately after PC in the VF group were significantly lower than those in the asphyxial group (12.8±4.87 mmHg vs. 49.2±8.13 mmHg, P=0.000). In the VF group, the values of PETCO2 after 6 minutes of PC were significantly higher in rats with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), compared with those in rats without ROSC (16.5±3.07 mmHg vs. 13.2±2.62 mmHg, P=0.004). In the asphyxial group, the values of PETCO2 after 2 minutes of PC in rats with ROSC were significantly higher than those in rats without ROSC (20.8±3.24 mmHg vs. 13.9±1.50 mmHg, P=0.000). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves of PETCO2 showed significant sensitivity and specificity for predicting ROSC in VF versus asphyxial cardiac arrest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial values of PETCO2 immediately after CPR may be helpful in differentiating the causes of cardiac arrest. Changes of PETCO2 during CPR can predict outcomes of CPR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China ; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Shao
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China ; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China ; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China ; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China ; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
authors.forename: Zi-Tong
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Huang
keywords: Cardiac arrest; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide; Rats; Return of spontaneous circulation