Effect of first epinephrine administration time on cerebral perfusion pressure and cortical cerebral blood flow in a porcine cardiac arrest model

Abstract

Objective: The optimal time for epinephrine administration and its effects on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and microcirculation remain controversial. This study aimed to assess the effect of the first administration of epinephrine on cerebral perfusion pressure (CePP) and cortical CBF in porcine cardiac arrest model.

Methods: After 4 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation, eight of 24 swine were randomly assigned to the early, intermediate, and late groups. In each group, epinephrine was administered intravenously at 5, 10, and 15 min after cardiac arrest induction. CePP was calculated as the difference between the mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure. Cortical CBF was measured using a laser Doppler flow probe. The outcomes were CePP and cortical CBF measured continuously during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Mean CePP and cortical CBF were compared using analysis of variance and a linear mixed model.

Results: The mean CePP was significantly different between the groups at 6-11 min after cardiac arrest induction. The mean CePP in the early group was significantly higher than that in the intermediate group at 8-10 min and that in the late group at 6-9 min and 10-11 min. The mean cortical CBF was significantly different between the groups at 9-11 min. The mean cortical CBF was significantly higher in the early group than in the intermediate and late group at 9-10 min.

Conclusion: Early administration of epinephrine was associated with improved CePP and cortical CBF compared to intermediate or late administration during the early period of CPR.

Keywords: Cardiac arrest; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation; Cerebral perfusion; Epinephrine; Porcine.