Endotracheal administration of epinephrine during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

A hypoxia-induced canine cardiac model was used to study the effectiveness hemodynamic response, arterial blood gas and pulmonary pathologic changes after endotracheal (ET) epinephrine administration in comparison with those from intravenous (IV) administration. The results indicated that the survival rate was the same with the drug given by either route. The increase of hemodynamic indices was lower in the group after ET administration than that after IV administration. No significant influence was exerted on the drug effects whether the drug is diluted in normal saline or in distilled water and no serious detrimental effects occurred on the lung tissues following ET epinephrine administration.