Effect of time on regional organ perfusion during two methods of cardiopulmonary resuscitation

The effect of the duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on capillary perfusion in selected organs was studied in two methods of CPR. Flows were measured during sinus rhythm and at two and ten minutes of CPR by injection of labeled microspheres. Cardiac output during CPR was redistributed, with a higher percentage directed cephalad. Brain blood flow during early CPR was preserved, but flow decreased significantly (P less than .05) by ten minutes. Flow to all other organs also decreased over time in CPR, but the differences were significant only for organs above the diaphragm and spleen. Although CPR with abdominal binding as compared to CPR without binding did not significantly increase flow to any organ (P less than .05), flow with binding (versus without binding) was higher to the organs above the diaphragm and lower to organs below the diaphragm.