Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the nonhuman primate

Seventeen adult male Cynamolgus monkeys were subjected to potassium chloride-induced cardiopulmonary arrests of 10 to 12 minutes. Pupils became dilated and fixed at a mean interval of 30 +/- 11 seconds, and the electroencephalogram became isoelectric at a mean interval of 34 +/- 13 seconds. The monkeys were resuscitated by means of oxygen, external cardiac message, epinephrine, calcium, and bicarbonate. The mean time required to resuscitate the monkeys was 140 +/- 70 seconds. After resuscitation, the monkeys were kept in an intensive care unit. Pupillary responsiveness and electroencephalographic activity were slow to return, with mean intervals of 90 +/- 85 and 108 +/- 36 minutes, respectively. Although all 17 monkeys were resuscitated, only 9 survived 96 hours or more. Of the 9 survivors, 2 appeared neurologically normal, 3 were moderately impaired, and 4 were severely impaired.