Ventricular fibrillation in the cat: a model for global cerebral ischemia

Stroke. 1981 Nov-Dec;12(6):808-15. doi: 10.1161/01.str.12.6.808.

Abstract

A minimally invasive and standardized means of resuscitating cats from defined periods of ventricular fibrillation (VF) has been developed using methods little different from human cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques. After a 12 min arrest, the rate of successful resuscitation is greater than 90%, witha resuscitation time of 2.5 +/- 0.7 (SD) min, and a 7 day survival of 70%. All deaths could be related to a specific electroencephalographic event observed acutely post-resuscitation, and were not due to obvious non-neurologic complications. The post-arrest variation in a variety of parameters (blood pressure, blood gases, etc.) was minimal, and the degree of neurologic damage was severe enough to permit evaluation. Such a model is clinically relevant, and may be useful in studying the pathophysiology of global ischemia, and assessing different types of post-arrest therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology*
  • Cats
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Heart Arrest / complications
  • Heart Arrest / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Resuscitation
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / physiopathology*