[Abdominal compression and PEEP respiration during cardiopulmonary resuscitation]

Three different resuscitation techniques were assessed by monitoring haemodynamic, respiratory, and cerebral parameters in 12 pigs of average body wt. (29 kg) following electrically induced cardiac arrest. All three techniques were carried out in randomised sequence, each for ten minutes, on each of the 12 animals. I = interposed ventilation and thoracic compression; S = simultaneous ventilation and thoracic compression; SA = simultaneous ventilation and thoracic compression plus abdominal binding 100 mm Hg. A compression rate of 60/min and ventilation rate of 12 min were used for each of the three techniques. 6 animals were ventilated with ZEEP for the whole of the 30 min observation period, the remainder with a PEEP of 5 cm H2O. In both ZEEP and PEEP groups the highest blood pressure and carotid artery flow rates were observed with the "SA" technique. PEEP ventilation and abdominal binding was found to be the most effective combination. Despite a rise in intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure rose when abdominal binding was applied. The CO2-production and arterio-venous oxygen difference of both ventilation groups were not significantly influenced by the different techniques. Even the technique "SA" did not markedly influence gas exchange or acid-base parameters. Despite an increase in the arterial base deficit and lactate levels during the course of resuscitation, the arterial pH did not fall below initial values because of the low paCO2. The positive effect of abdominal binding is a result of increased intrathoracic pressure, an increase in the effective circulating blood volume, and redistribution of blood flow.