Background: The effectiveness of CPR declines over time during prolonged cardiac arrest (CA). Intravascular thrombosis may be a contributing factor. As part of a larger study examining antithrombotic therapy in a porcine model of prolonged CA, the impact of early administration of argatroban on CPR hemodynamics is reported. Hypothesis: Early administration of argatroban during CPR improves the quality of goal-directed CPR (gdCPR). Methods: In a blinded and randomized study, 48 swine (40±5kg) underwent an 8min untreated period of ventricular fibrillation CA followed by a gdCPR protocol for 30min (total arrest time 38min). Manual and mechanical chest compressions with the use of an impedance threshold device (ITD) were introduced to maintain end-tidal CO 2 (Et-CO 2 ) >20mmHg. Argatroban (350mg/kg) or placebo (20mL NSS) were administered to respective groups (n=24 per group) 12mins after initiation of CA. Et-CO 2 , coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), end-diastolic pressure (EDP), and intracranial pressure (ICP) were monitored continuously. Averages were taken over the course of gdCPR for hemodynamic parameters. Arterial blood gases (ABGs) were obtained at the end of gdCPR. Analysis between groups was performed using an unpaired t-test (significance = p <0.05). Results: Average hemodynamic parameters were not statistically different between argatroban vs. placebo groups (Et-CO 2 22.6±6.7 vs. 21.5±5.9 mmHg; EDP 25.6±10.7 vs. 23.7±9.6 mmHg; ICP 25.7±2.0 vs.20.9±2.7 cmH 2 O; CPP 8.7±11.2 vs. 7.0±11.2 mmHg). Final ABG values were also not statistically different between argatroban vs. placebo groups (pH 7.23±0.1 vs. 7.23±0.2; PaO 2 187.4±146.3 vs. 132.2±187.4 mmHg; PaCO 2 38.8±16.6 vs. 43.0±26.1 mmHg; lactate 8.5±1.7 vs. 8.8±1.4 mmol/L). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that early administration of argatroban during CPR did not have a significant effect on gdCPR quality in a porcine model of prolonged CA.
Read full abstract