The Journal of surgical research
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There currently are no well-defined animal models for traumatic pulseless electrical activity (PEA). Our objective was to develop a swine model of traumatic PEA that would be useful for laboratory research where mortality is an outcome of interest. In this pilot study, we hypothesized that animals that remained in PEA without intervention for a longer period would have increased mortality. ⋯ In our pilot study of traumatic PEA in a swine model, a shorter period of nonintervention resulted in increased survival, improved hemodynamics during resuscitation, decreased hyperkalemia, and less incidence of conversion to VF arrest.