Porcine Cardiac Arrest Model Using an Implantable Defibrillator

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Translational Medicine
• Animal Models

Background:

• Large animal models are crucial for cardiac arrest research.
• Conventional methods for ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction and defibrillation face challenges like motion artifacts and inconsistent success rates.
• Existing techniques often lead to high animal resource utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a reproducible porcine cardiac arrest model for improved translational research.
• To establish a reliable method for ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction and cardioversion using an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
• To enable accurate intracardiac electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring during resuscitation, adhering to the 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement).

Main Methods:

• Utilized an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for controlled induction and cardioversion of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in pigs.
• Implemented repeated cycles of VF induction and cardioversion within the same animal.
• Employed intracardiac ECG for continuous, artifact-resistant rhythm monitoring throughout resuscitation.

Main Results:

• Achieved high success rates for both ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction and cardioversion.
• Demonstrated reliable recovery of spontaneous circulation in eleven pigs.
• Showcased improved artifact resistance compared to surface ECG monitoring.

Conclusions:

• The ICD-based porcine model offers a standardized and reproducible approach to cardiac arrest research.
• This method enhances experimental consistency and facilitates reproducible investigation of pathophysiology and resuscitation strategies.
• The protocol effectively minimizes physiological stress and animal numbers, aligning with ethical research principles.