[Emergency cardiopulmonary bypass (ECPB) for cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation; (2). Physiologic changes]

After normothermic ventricular fibrillation (Vf) cardiac arrest of 15 min, 15 female mongrel dogs received conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for 3 min and then cardiopulmonary bypass through the femoral artery and veins (F-F bypass). Cardiac beat did not return in any dogs during the initial 3-min CPR. Spontaneous circulation was restored by defibrillation 5.2 +/- 3.8 (mean +/- SD) min after the initiation of the F-F bypass in all dogs except in one with bypass trouble. Life-threatening ventricular dysrhythmias appeared in 8 of the 14 dogs (57%). Eleven of the 14 dogs (79%) were successfully weaned from the F-F bypass. Spontaneous respiration and circulation remained stable for the subsequent 1-h observation period in 8 dog (57%). The values of cardiac output measured just before weaning from the bypass and 30 to 60 min after weaning were significantly lower than those before inducing Vf (n = 5). On the electroencephalogram, intermittent burst waves reappeared 90.0 +/- 24.7 min after the initiation of resuscitation and EEG showed continuous waves 130.7 +/- 28.1 min (n = 7) after the initiation of resuscitation. The values of blood glucose, lactate and potassium 5 to 15 min after the initiation of F-F bypass were significantly higher than those before induction of Vf, while the values of hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet and serum protein decreased significantly (n = 14).