Comparison of epinephrine and dopamine during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

The effectiveness of epinephrine and dopamine for restoring spontaneous circulation after asphyxial or fibrillatory cardiac arrest was compared using a porcine model. Asphyxial arrest: 7 animals received 45 micrograms/kg epinephrine, 7 animals 2.5 mg/kg dopamine, the remaining 7 animals received no drug treatment. All 7 animals given epinephrine could be resuscitated after 174 +/- 53 s, spontaneous circulation could be restored in only 3 of 7 animals given dopamine after 487 +/- 63 s and in none of the control animals could spontaneous circulation be established. Ventricular fibrillation: 7 animals were defibrillated without either mechanical measures or drug therapy. The following doses were given before defibrillation and after starting mechanical measures to separate groups of 7 animals each: 45 micrograms/kg epinephrine, 2.5 mg/kg dopamine, or no drug therapy. In the absence of either drug or mechanical measures and with mechanical measures only, spontaneous circulation could not be established in any of the cases. After administration of epinephrine, defibrillation and restoration of spontaneous circulation was achieved in 6 of 7 animals in 667 +/- 216 s, with dopamine, all the animals could be successfully resuscitated in the shorter time of 174 +/- 85 s. Epinephrine was found to be superior to dopamine in the treatment of asphyxial arrest whereas dopamine was found to be better in the management of ventricular fibrillation, probably by improving the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand.