A rat model of electrically-induced
ventricular fibrillation followed by cardiac
resuscitation using a closed chest technique that incorporates the basic components of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation in humans is herein described. The model was developed in 1988 and has been used in approximately 70 peer-reviewed publications examining a myriad of
resuscitation aspects including its physiology and pathophysiology, determinants of resuscitability, pharmacologic interventions, and even the effects of cell
therapies. The model featured in this presentation includes: (1) vascular catheterization to measure aortic and right atrial pressures, to measure cardiac output by thermodilution, and to electrically induce
ventricular fibrillation; and (2) tracheal intubation for
positive pressure ventilation with
oxygen enriched gas and assessment of the end-tidal CO2. A typical sequence of intervention entails: (1) electrical induction of
ventricular fibrillation, (2) chest compression using a mechanical piston device concomitantly with
positive pressure ventilation delivering
oxygen-enriched gas, (3) electrical shocks to terminate
ventricular fibrillation and reestablish cardiac activity, (4) assessment of post-
resuscitation hemodynamic and metabolic function, and (5) assessment of survival and recovery of organ function. A robust inventory of measurements is available that includes - but is not limited to - hemodynamic, metabolic, and tissue measurements. The model has been highly effective in developing new
resuscitation concepts and examining novel therapeutic interventions before their testing in larger and translationally more relevant animal models of
cardiac arrest and
resuscitation.