Core rewarming via warm lavage liquid ventilation in a swine model of hypothermia-associated ventricular fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether warm lavage liquid ventilation (LV) would provide rapid cardiopulmonary rewarming in swine with severe hypothermia and ventricular fibrillation.

METHODS

Intubated common swine (n = 3; mean +/- SEM weight 26+/-1.2 kg) were cooled to a mean aortic temperature of 26.4+/-0.9 degrees C. Ventricular fibrillation was induced by transthoracic electrical shock. Rewarming was initiated by continuous endotracheal instillation of warm (44 degrees C) pre-oxygenated, perfluorocarbon liquid at 5 mL/kg/min. Endotracheal instillation of perfluorocarbon occurred while standard gas ventilation continued. Manual chest compressions were performed throughout the 30-minute rewarming process. Outcome measures were the absolute and relative rates of change of all temperatures.

RESULTS

After 30 minutes of warm lavage LV, the mean aortic and pulmonary artery temperatures increased by 6.6+/-0.6 degrees C, respectively. Esophageal, nasal, and rectal temperatures did not change significantly. In one animal, normal sinus rhythm spontaneously returned after 16 minutes of rewarming.

CONCLUSIONS

During cardiac arrest, warm lavage liquid ventilation may produce rapid cardiopulmonary rewarming.