Emergency cardiopulmonary bypass for resuscitation from prolonged cardiac arrest

After cardiac arrest (no flow) of more than approximately 5 minutes' duration, standard external cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) basic, advanced, and prolonged life support (BLS, ALS, PLS) do not reliably produce cerebral and coronary perfusion pressures to maintain viability and achieve stable spontaneous normotension; nor do they provide prolonged control over pressure, flow, composition, and temperature of blood. Since these capabilities are often needed to achieve conscious survival, emergency closed-chest cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) by veno-arterial pumping via oxygenator is presented in this review as a potential addition to ALS-PLS for selected cases. In six dog studies by the Pittsburgh group (n = 221; 1982 through 1988), all 179 dogs that received CPB after prolonged cardiac arrest (no flow) or after CPR (low flow) states had restoration of stable spontaneous circulation. The use of CPB enhanced survival and neurological recovery over those achieved with CPR-ALS attempts only. With CPB and standard intensive care, it was possible to reverse normothermic ventricular fibrillation (VF) cardiac arrest (no flow) of up to 15 minutes and to achieve survival without neurologic deficit; VF of 20 minutes to achieve survival but with neurologic deficit; and VF of 30 minutes to achieve transient restoration of spontaneous circulation followed by secondary cardiac death. CPB could restore stable spontaneous circulation after ice water submersion of up to 90 minutes. Other groups' laboratory and clinical results agree with these findings in general. Clinical feasibility trials are needed to work out logistic problems and to meet clinical challenges. Future possibilities for emergency CPB require further research and development.