Favorable outcome after experimental cardiac arrest for 15min without preceding anticoagulation

Abstract

Objectives: State-of-the-art cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) restores circulation with inconsistent blood-flow and pressure. The use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) following CPR opens the opportunity to gain more control over blood flow and pressure and is used more frequently. In animal experiments investigating CPR with ECC, administration of heparin before induced cardiac arrest (CA) is usual, but a major point of objection, since preliminary heparin administration in patients undergoing unobserved CA is not possible. In this study we investigate options for use of ECC without preceding heparinization after experimental 15min normothermic CA.