Circulatory recovery is as fast with air ventilation as with 100% oxygen after asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest in piglets.

We investigated return of spontaneous circulation and of cerebral oxygenation after asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest, using ventilation with air, throughout, or with 100% oxygen for a shorter or longer period. Arterial pressure, heart rate, regional cerebral oxygen saturation (CrSO2), and brain tissue oxygen tension (PbtO2) were measured in 1-d-old piglets that were hypoventilated with air and left in apnea until cardiac arrest. They were randomly assigned to be resuscitated with air (n = 13), or with oxygen for 3 (n = 12) or 30 min (n = 13) and then with air.