Cardiac arrest temperature: the effect of ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide on baboons

The effect of high inspired carbon dioxide concentrations and i.v. ethyl alcohol on the temperature at which cardiac arrest occurred was studied in chacma baboons. Alcohol-treated baboons developed cardiac arrest at a temperature of 24.3 degrees C (SD +/- 0.85) and control animals at 27 degrees C (SD +/- 1.30). There were no signs of cardiac failure before the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation.