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World Journal of Emergency Medicine ›› 2014, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (2): 116-121.doi: 10.5847/wjem.j.issn.1920-8642.2014.02.007

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Changes of end-tidal carbon dioxide during cardiopulmonary resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation versus asphyxial cardiac arrest

Qing-ming Lin1, Xiang-shao Fang2,3, Li-li Zhou2,3, Yue Fu2,3, Jun Zhu2,3, Zi-tong Huang2,3()   

  1. 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
    2Institute of Cardiopulmonary Cerebral Resuscitation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
    3Department of Emergency Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
  • Received:2013-11-22 Accepted:2014-04-12 Online:2014-06-15 Published:2014-06-15
  • Contact: Zi-tong Huang E-mail:huangztdoc@126.com

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.

Key words: Partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide, Cardiac arrest, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Return of spontaneous circulation, Rats