Impact of intravenous fluid administration on cardiac output and oxygenation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Background: The effect of intravenous fluid (IVF) administration during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an unexplored factor that may improve cardiac output (CO) during CPR. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of IVF administration on CO and oxygenation during CPR.

Methods: This experimental animal study was performed in a critical care animal laboratory. Twenty-two Landrace-Yorkshire female piglets weighing 27-37 kg were anesthetized, intubated, and placed on positive pressure ventilation. Irreversible cardiac arrest was induced with bupivacaine. CPR was performed with a LUCAS 3 mechanical compression device. Pigs were randomized into IVF or no-IVF groups. Pigs in the IVF group were given 20 mL/kg of Plasma-Lyte (Baxter International, Deerfield, IL USA), infused from 15 to 35 min of CPR. CPR was maintained for 50 min with serial measurements of CO obtained using ultrasound dilution technology and partial pressure of oxygen (PaO).

Results: A mixed-effects repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare within-group, and between-group mean changes in CO and PaO over time. CO and PaO for the piglets were measured at 10-min intervals during the 50 min of CPR. CO was greater in the IVF compared with the control group at all time points during and after the infusion of the IVF. Mean PaO decreased with time; however, at no time was there a significant difference in PaO between the IVF and control groups.

Conclusions: Administration of IVF during CPR resulted in a significant increase in CO during CPR both during and after the IVF infusion. There was no statistically significant decrease in PaO between the IVF and control groups.