Normoxic Ventilation After Cardiac Arrest Reduces Oxidation of Brain Lipids and Improves Neurological Outcome

Abstract

With a clinically relevant canine model of 10 minutes of cardiac arrest, resuscitation with 21% versus 100% inspired O2 resulted in lower levels of oxidized brain lipids and improved neurological outcome measured after 24 hours of reperfusion. This study casts further doubt on the appropriateness of present guidelines that recommend the indiscriminate use of 100% ventilatory O2 for undefined periods during and after resuscitation from cardiac arrest.