Effects of ulinastatin on brain protection after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a porcine model

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of ulinastatin (UTI) on brain protection after cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a porcine model.Methods A total of 20 female swine were induced to make ventricular fibrillation (VF) by programmed stimulation method,and CPR was stared after 8 mins after VF.Swine after ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) were randomly (random number) divided into two groups,namely UTI group and control group.In UTI group,UTI was administered slowly in a dose of 100 000 U dissolved in 5 ml saline immediately after resuscitation and then given every 3 h until 24 h after CPR (UTI not given at the time of 24 h) ; and 5 ml saline was used instead in control group.Venous blood samples were taken separately before VF,immediate after resuscitation and 3 h,12 h and 24 h after ROSC for detecting levels of TNF-o and IL-1β.Cerebral performance category (CPC) scores were assessed 24 h after ROSC,and subsequently the swine were sacrificed to get brain specimens for histopathological and ultrastructural examination under ordinary light microscope.Results Fifteen of twenty domestic swine were successfully rescued 8 mins after ventricular fibrillation.Swine of UTI group (n =8) and control group (n =7) were all survived over 24 h.Both TNF-α and IL-1β levels were significantly lower in UTI group than those in control group at intervals of 3 h,12 h and 24 h after ROSC (P ＜0.05).Twenty-four hours after ROSC,CPC scores of swine were higher in UTI group than those in control group (P ＜ 0.05).The brain injury 24 h after ROSC was significantly attenuated in UTI group than that in control group.Conclusions UTI can reduce the injury of brain tissue and improve the recovery of cerebral function after CPR. Key words: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Ulinastatin; Inflammatory factor; Cerebral performance category score ; Brain protection; Pig