| Low plasma potassium in deep hypothermic cardiac arrest indicates that cardiac arrest is secondary to hypothermia: a porcine study. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19641463 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OBJECTIVES: In accidental hypothermia, normal signs of death are unreliable. It is generally accepted that a lifeless person is beyond the limits of rescue if plasma potassium (P-potassium) is higher than10 mmol/l. However, the rate of increase in potassium or in other markers after cardiac arrest has not been carefully studied in hypothermic individuals. The aim of this animal study was to assess biochemical changes after anoxic circulatory arrest at hypothermia and at normothermia followed by external cooling. METHODS: Five pigs were treated with heparin and extracorporeal circulation and cooled to 20 degrees C (primary hypothermia group). The animals were weaned from extracorporeal circulation, suffered cardiac arrest, and were cooled externally with ice to mimic victims found in a cold environment. With the use of intermittent external cardiac compressions mixing the blood, arterial P-potassium was followed after cardiac arrest until the level exceeded 10 mmol/l. Another group of five pigs (anoxic cardiac arrest group) were treated with heparin and killed by anoxia at normothermia and were thereafter treated and followed similarly to the primary hypothermia group. RESULTS: In primary hypothermia P-potassium exceeded 10 mmol/l after median 3.5 h, whereas in anoxic cardiac arrest P-potassium exceeded 10 mmol/l after median 1 h. CONCLUSION: This study shows that if cardiac arrest occurs before hypothermia is established, P-potassium increases quickly in contrast to the situation when hypothermia induces cardiac arrest. Thus, a low P-potassium in a hypothermic individual with cardiac arrest indicates that cardiac arrest occurred recently or was secondary to the hypothermic event. |
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Authors:
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Benedict Kjaergaard; Louise K Jakobsen; Conny Nielsen; Peter J Knudsen; Søren R Kristensen; Anders Larsson |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine Volume: 17 ISSN: 1473-5695 ISO Abbreviation: Eur J Emerg Med Publication Date: 2010 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-04-26 Completed Date: 2011-01-06 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9442482 Medline TA: Eur J Emerg Med Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 131-5 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Center for Cardiovascular Research, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. benedict@dadlnet.dk |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Anesthetics, Intravenous Animals Anoxia / complications* Azaperone Biological Markers Body Temperature Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced* Hypnotics and Sedatives Midazolam Potassium / blood* Risk Factors Swine Time Factors |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Anesthetics, Intravenous; 0/Biological Markers; 0/Hypnotics and Sedatives; 1649-18-9/Azaperone; 59467-70-8/Midazolam; 7440-09-7/Potassium |
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