title: Intraarrest rhythms and rhythm conversion in asphyxial cardiac arrest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to analyze the cardiac arrest rhythms presenting during asphyxial cardiac arrest (ACA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Asphyxial cardiac arrest was induced in 30 Landrace large white piglets, aged 12 to 15 weeks and with a mean (±SD) weight of 20 (±2) kg. After the onset of cardiac arrest, the animals were left untreated for 4 minutes, after which cardiopulmonary resuscitation was commenced. Heart rhythms were monitored from the onset of asphyxia until return of spontaneous circulation or death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After endotracheal tube clamping and prior to cardiac arrest, normal sinus rhythm was noted in 14 animals, atrial fibrillation in two animals, Mobitz II atrioventricular block in 10 animals, and third-degree atrioventricular block in four animals. At the onset of cardiac arrest, seven animals had ventricular fibrillation (VF), two had asystole, and 21 had pulseless electrical activity (PEA). During the 4-minute period of untreated arrest, however, significant changes in the monitored rhythm were noted; at the end of the fourth minute, 19 animals had VF, two animals had asystole, and nine animals had PEA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most common rhythm after 4 minutes of untreated ACA was VF, while in 57% of animals, PEA was spontaneously converted to VF during the cardiac arrest interval.
authors.affiliation: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, MSc Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Giolanda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Varvarousi
authors.affiliation: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, MSc Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.|The Hellenic Society of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chalkias
authors.affiliation: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, MSc Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stefaniotou
authors.affiliation: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, MSc Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pliatsika
authors.affiliation: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, MSc Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Varvarousis
authors.affiliation: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, MSc Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koutsovasilis
authors.affiliation: The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, MSc Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.|The Hellenic Society of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xanthos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000150:complications*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D013552:Swine; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*