Effects of flunarizine on recovery of cerebral function following cardiac arrest.

A 10-min cardiac arrest was produced in alfentanil-anesthetised dogs by electrical fibrillation of the heart. Recovery of cerebral function was monitored by 3 separate EEG techniques and visual assessment of neurologic deficit. The EEG techniques were visual scoring, broad-band power spectral analysis and period-amplitude analysis. The treatment group (n = 8) received flunarizine (0.1 mg/kg i.v.) at the beginning of resuscitation, while control animals (n = 8) were given the drug vehicle. A significant improvement in the visual EEG score and neurologic deficit 6 h after insult was noted in flunarizine-treated dogs. The extent of neurologic recovery was significantly correlated with the visual EEG score, with the relative power in the alpha frequency band (7.5-13.5 c/s) and with the percentage of zero-cross frequency.