Vasopressin and epinephrine are equally effective for CPR in a rat asphyxia model

Kono, S.; Bito, H; Suzuki, A; Obata, Y; Igarashi, H; Sato, S

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Volume 52, Issue 2 , Pages 215-219, February 2002

Vasopressin and epinephrine are equally effective for CPR in a rat asphyxia model

Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Handacho 3600, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, 4313192, Japan

Received 27 February 2001; received in revised form 16 July 2001; accepted 16 July 2001.

Abstract

Epinephrine has been administered as a drug essential for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Recently, vasopressin has been reported to be more effective than epinephrine for CPR in a ventricular fibrillation (VF) model. As a different myocardial pathology is speculated to exist between the VF model and the asphyxia model, we investigated whether vasopressin is also effective in a rat asphyxia model. Twenty-one Sprague–Dawley male rats were divided into three groups: vasopressin 0.8 U/kg (Vaso-Gr), epinephrine 0.05 mg/kg (Epi-Gr), and saline same volume as the other two drugs (Sal-Gr). Five minutes after suffocation induced by obstruction of the tracheal tube, CPR was performed using each drug. Although only one animal survived (17%) in the Sal-Gr, 6/7 (85%) survived in both Vaso-Gr and Epi-Gr (P<0.01). Vasopressin is as effective as epinephrine for CPR in asphyxia-induced rats.

Keywords: Asphyxia, Epinephrine, Vasopressin, CPR