Upper facial muscle activity and survival after hypoxic insult in rats

Spontaneous cerebral biopotentials were monitored during and after hypoxic insults in 30 ketamine-anesthetized rats. Upper facial electromyographic (EMG, mean integrated amplitude) and electroencephalographic (mean zero cross frequency (ZXF) and mean integrated amplitude (MIA] data were recorded within 30 min after reoxygenation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The animals were separated into 2 groups based on 24 h survival. EMG in Survivors (n = 16) recovered regularly to pre-insult levels by 30 min after resuscitation. At this time, EMG activity was consistently low in Non-survivors. In contrast, ZXF and MIA, albeit sensitive hypoxia detectors, did not totally discriminate between Survivors and Non-survivors. Absent EMG in Non-survivors may have reflected irreversible hypoxic damage at the brainstem level.