• Eleni Bassiakou, Theodoros Xanthos, Eleni Koudouna, Sotirios Goulas, Vassiliki Prapa, Dimitrios Papadimitriou, George Rokas, and Lila Papadimitriou.
• Department of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S.Christeas, Athens School of Medicine, Athens 11527, Greece.
• Am J Emerg Med. 2008 Jun 1;26(5):578-84.

Study ObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to assess whether a beta-adrenergic blocking agent such as atenolol, administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, would improve initial resuscitation success.MethodsVentricular fibrillation was induced in 20 Landrace/Large White piglets, which were left untreated for 8 minutes before attempted resuscitation with precordial compression, mechanical ventilation, and electrical defibrillation. Animals were randomized into 2 groups (10 animals each) to receive saline as placebo (20 mL dilution, bolus) + epinephrine (0.02 mg/kg) (group A) or atenolol (0.05 mg/kg per 20 mL dilution, bolus) + epinephrine (0.02 mg/kg) (group B) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Electrical defibrillation was attempted after 10 minutes of ventricular fibrillation.ResultsNine animals in group B restored spontaneous circulation in comparison to only 4 in group A. Aortic systolic and diastolic pressures as well as coronary perfusion pressure were significantly increased during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in group B. Furthermore, postresuscitation heart rate of the atenolol-treated group was significantly decreased.ConclusionsA beta-adrenergic blocking agent, when administered during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, significantly improves initial resuscitation success and increases blood and coronary perfusion pressures during cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

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