Transoesophageal cardiac pacing is effective for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a rat of asphyxial model

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effectiveness of transoesophageal cardiac pacing in a rat model of asphyxial cardiac arrest. METHODS: Ten minutes after the tracheal tube had been clamped, cardiac arrest (CA) occurred in 20 Sprague-Dawley rats, and the rats were assigned randomly to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in a control group or CPR combined with transoesophageal cardiac pacing in a pacing group. Restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was defined as an unassisted pulse with a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of >or=20 mmHg for >or=1 min. RESULTS: ROSC was significantly more frequent in the pacing group compared with the control group (7/10 versus 1/10, P<0.05). Faster ROSC and longer survival trend in the pacing group were seen compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Transoesophageal cardiac pacing is effective for CPR in a rat of asphyxial model. However, the precise mechanism is not clear and further experiments will be necessary.