[The verapamil correction of postresuscitation damages to the heart]

Disorders of systemic hemodynamics and myocardial contractility during the early postresuscitation period were examined in 132 outbred male rats resuscitated after 4-min clinical death from acute blood loss. The efficacy of adding verapamil (calcium ion antagonist) in a dose of 0.1 mg/kg to a complex of reanimation measures was assessed. Verapamil added to resuscitation procedures was conducive to an earlier repair of heart work and to a reduction of the early postresuscitation arrhythmias; it ensured a hemodynamic relief of the heart and decreased cardiodepression. Cardioprotective effect of verapamil was due to its ability to protect cell membranes from irreversible ischemic and reperfusion damage by preventing the postresuscitation calcium overloading of cardiomyocytes.