A novel ultrasound-guided mouse model of sudden cardiac arrest

Mouse models of sudden cardiac arrest are limited by challenges with surgical technique and obtaining reliable venous access. To overcome this limitation, we sought to develop a simplified method in the mouse that uses ultrasound-guided injection of potassium chloride directly into the heart.

Potassium chloride was delivered directly into the left ventricular cavity under ultrasound guidance in intubated mice, resulting in immediate asystole. Mice were resuscitated with injection of epinephrine and manual chest compressions and evaluated for survival, body temperature, cardiac function, kidney damage, and diffuse tissue injury.

The direct injection sudden cardiac arrest model causes rapid asystole with high surgical survival rates and short surgical duration. Sudden cardiac arrest mice with 8-min of asystole have significant cardiac dysfunction at 24 hours and high lethality within the first seven days, where after cardiac function begins to improve. Sudden cardiac arrest mice have secondary organ damage, including significant kidney injury but no significant change to neurologic function.

Ultrasound-guided direct injection of potassium chloride allows for rapid and reliable cardiac arrest in the mouse that mirrors human pathology without the need for intravenous access. This technique will improve investigators' ability to study the mechanisms underlying post-arrest changes in a mouse model.