Brief induced hypothermia improves outcome after asphyxial cardiopulmonary arrest in juvenile rats.

The American Heart Association has endorsed the use of mild hypothermia for adults after cardiopulmonary arrest. However, there are no contemporary trials testing hypothermia in children after cardiopulmonary arrest and extrapolation from adult studies is problematic given differences in brain development and primary etiology (asphyxia in children vs. ventricular arrhythmia in adults).

Experimental model of pediatric asphyxial cardiopulmonary arrest in rats.

Objective: Develop a clinically relevant model of pediatric asphyxial cardiopulmonary arrest in rats.

Design: Prospective interventional study.

Setting: University research laboratory.