Flunarizine i.v. after cardiac arrest (FLUNA-study): study design and organisational aspects of a double-blind,...

To investigate the cerebro-protective effect of flunarizine i.v. in patients successfully resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation outside hospital, a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study was started in February 1988 in West-Berlin with all eight Mobile Intensive Care Units and ten major hospitals participating. Start of treatment was in the patient's home immediately after restoration of stable circulatory conditions. Primary endpoints reduction of mortality due to hypoxic brain damage and more rapid improvement after cardiac arrest and resuscitation. Inclusion criteria men and women without age limit, ventricular fibrillation prior to or upon arrival of a MICU, primarily successful cardiac resuscitation with continuing unconsciousness. Recruitment of patients will end January 31st, 1990. An inclusion of about 500 patients is expected.