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K H Lindner

Publications and source records attributed to K H Lindner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Ventilation of an unprotected airway: evaluation of a new peak-inspiratory-flow and airway-pressure-limiting bag-valve-mask].

BACKGROUND: Currently 30 chest compressions and 2 ventilations with an inspiratory time of 1 s are recommended during cardiopulmonary resuscitation with an unprotected airway, thus spending about 15% instead of 40% of resuscitation time on ventilation. Time could be gained for chest compressions when reducing inspiratory time from 2 s to 1 s, however, stomach inflation may increase as well. METHODS: In an established bench model we evaluated the effect of reducing inspiratory time from 2 s to 1 s at different lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (LOSP) levels using a novel peak inspiratory-flow and peak airway-pressure-limiting bag-valve-mask device (Smart-Bag). RESULTS: A reduction of inspiratory time from 2 s to 1 s resulted in significantly lower peak airway pressure with LOSP of 0.49 kPa (5 cm H2O), 0.98 kPa (10 cm H2O) and 1.47 kPa (15 cm H2O) and an increase with 1.96 kPa (20 cm H2O). Lung tidal volume was reduced with 1 s compared to 2 s. When reducing inspiratory time from 2 s to 1 s, stomach inflation occurred only at a LOSP of 0.49 kPa (5 cm H2O). CONCLUSIONS: In this model of a simulated unprotected airway, a reduction of inspiratory time from 2 s to 1 s using the Smart-Bag resulted in comparable inspiratory peak airway pressure and lower, but clinically comparable, lung tidal volume. Stomach inflation occurred only at a LOSP of 0.49 kPa (5 cm H2O), and was higher with an inspiratory time of 2 s vs 1 s.

Air Pressure↗
PubMed2005

Employing vasopressin as an adjunct vasopressor in uncontrolled traumatic hemorrhagic shock. Three cases and a brief analysis of the literature.

Resuscitation of patients in hemorrhagic shock remains one of the most challenging aspects of trauma care. We showed in experimental studies that vasopressin, but not fluid resuscitation, enabled short-term and long-term survival in a porcine model of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock after penetrating liver trauma. In this case report, we present two cases with temporarily successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using vasopressin and catecholamines in uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock with subsequent cardiac arrest that was refractory to catecholamines and fluid replacement. In a third patient, an infusion of vasopressin was started before cardiac arrest occurred; in this case, we were able to stabilize blood pressure thus allowing further therapy. The patient underwent multiple surgical procedures, developed multi-organ failure, but was finally discharged from the critical care unit without neurological damage.

Abdominal Injuries↗
PubMed2005

[Analgesia with remifentanil in spontaneously breathing patients undergoing brief but painful radiological procedures].

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) and stenting are very painful procedures in interventional radiology and require potent analgesia; employing remifentanil in spontaneously breathing patients may be one possible strategy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group was composed of 18 men and 2 women with a mean age of 63+/-10 (mean+/-SD) years. Pain intensity was measured with a VAS score before the procedure, after local anesthesia on the rib cage, after stenting and after the radiology procedure. RESULTS: Remifentanil infusion (dosage: 0.12-0.30 microg/kg body weight/min) was infused throughout the entire radiology procedure according to physical status, past medical history, individual pain, and clinical assessment. During insufflation of 10l O(2)/min via a venturi mask, oxygen saturation did not fall below 96% at any time-point during the procedure. In the VAS score, we noted a decrease after starting the remifentanil infusion towards the end of procedure. All patients were able to move into bed without help. Postoperatively, no analgesics and no antiemetics were needed. CONCLUSIONS: Employing a remifentanil infusion for brief interventional radiology procedures in palliative treatment of patients resulted in high patient and radiologist comfort.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Treatment of hemorrhagic shock. New therapy options].

The future of shock treatment depends on the importance of scientific results, and the willingness of physicians to optimize, and to reconsider established treatment protocols. There are four major potentially promising approaches to advanced trauma life support. First, control of hemorrhage by administration of local hemostatic agents, and a better, target-controlled management of the coagulation system. Second, improving intravascular volume by recruiting blood from the venous vasculature by preventing mistakes during mechanical ventilation, and by employing alternative spontaneous (i.e. use of the inspiratory threshold valve) or artificial ventilation strategies. In addition, artificial oxygen carriers may improve intravascular volume and oxygen delivery. Third, pharmacologic support of physiologic, endogenous mechanisms involved in the compensation phase of shock, and blockade of pathomechanisms that are known to cause irreversible vasoplegia (arginine vasopressin and K(ATP) channel blockers for hemodynamic stabilization). Fourth, employing potentially protective strategies such as mild or moderate hypothermia. Finally, the ultimate vision of trauma resuscitation is the concept of "suspended animation" as a form of delayed resuscitation after protection of vital organ systems.

Blood Coagulation↗
PubMed2003

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation after near drowning and hypothermia: restoration of spontaneous circulation after vasopressin.

Recent animal data have challenged the common clinical practice to avoid vasopressor drugs during hypothermic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when core temperature is below 30 degrees C. In this report, we describe the case of a 19-year-old-female patient with prolonged, hypothermic, out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest after near drowning (core temperature, 27 degrees C) in whom cardiocirculatory arrest persisted despite 2 mg of intravenous epinephrine; but, immediate return of spontaneous circulation occurred after a single dose (40 IU) of intravenous vasopressin. The patient was subsequently admitted to a hospital with stable haemodynamics, and was successfully rewarmed with convective rewarming, but died of multiorgan failure 15 h later. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the use of vasopressin during hypothermic CPR in humans. This case report adds to the growing evidence that vasopressors may be useful to restore spontaneous circulation in hypothermic cardiac arrest patients prior to rewarming, thus avoiding prolonged mechanical CPR efforts, or usage of extracorporeal circulation. It may also support previous experience that the combination of both epinephrine and vasopressin may be necessary to achieve the vasopressor response needed for restoration of spontaneous circulation, especially after asphyxial cardiac arrest or during prolonged CPR efforts.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Neither vasopressin nor amiodarone improve CPR outcome in an animal model of hypothermic cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this experimental animal study was to investigate the influence of vasopressin and amiodarone on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) outcome in a pig model of hypothermic cardiac arrest. METHODS: After surface cooling to a core temperature of 26 degrees C, ventricular fibrillation was induced in 14 12-16-week-old domestic pigs. After 15 min of untreated cardiac arrest, a manual closed chest CPR was started and pigs were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: Group 1 pigs (n = 7) received vasopressin 0.4 U kg-1 as initial drug therapy, followed by a combination vasopressin (0.4 U kg-1) and amiodarone (4 mg kg-1) as subsequent drug therapy. Subsequent drug therapy was administered in animals without permanent restoration of spontaneous circulation after a first series of electrical countershocks 10 min after drug administration. Group 2 pigs (n = 7) received saline placebo as initial drug therapy and saline placebo and amiodarone (4 mg kg-1) as subsequent drug therapy. RESULTS: Vasopressin significantly increased coronary perfusion pressure and defibrillation success (successful defibrillation in five of seven Group 1 vs. none of seven Group 2 pigs, P = 0.02). Due to refibrillation within 30-150 s, the 60-min survival rate was not improved by vasopressin. Subsequent drug therapy with amiodarone had no further effect on defibrillation success or the refibrillation rate. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this experimental animal model suggest that vasopressin and amiodarone may not be beneficial for treatment of ventricular fibrillation associated with severe hypothermia when concomitant measures at core rewarming are not applied.

Amiodarone↗
PubMed2002

[The use of arginine vasopressin during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An analysis of experimental and clinical experience and a view of the future].

The risks and benefits of epinephrine given during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are controversially discussed. Animal experiments revealed beta-receptor-mediated adverse effects of epinephrine such as increased myocardial oxygen consumption, ventricular arrhythmia, ventilation-perfusion defects, and cardiac failure in the postresuscitation phase. In clinical studies, high-dose vs. standard-dose epinephrine was unable to improve resuscitation success. During CPR in patients, endogenous arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels were increased and surviving vs. non-surviving patients had significantly higher AVP levels. This may indicate that the human body discharges AVP during life-threatening situations as an additional vasopressor to catecholamines in order to maintain cardiocirculatory homeostasis. In different experimental CPR models, AVP compared with epinephrine given during CPR significantly improved vital organ blood flow, coronary perfusion pressure, resuscitability, and long-term survival. During prolonged CPR with repeated drug administration, AVP but not epinephrine maintained coronary perfusion pressure on a level that ensured return of spontaneous circulation. Also, AVP can be administered successfully in the intravenous dose into the endobronchial tree, and also intraosseously. When given during CPR, AVP induces a transient splanchnic hypoperfusion, and an increase in systemic vascular resistance, both of which normalized spontaneously; furthermore, an oligo-anuric state was not observed. In two clinical studies, AVP vs. epinephrine improved 24-h survival during out-of-hospital CPR, and comparable CPR outcome during in-hospital CPR. The new CPR guidelines of both the American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council assign a given CPR intervention into classes of recommendation [class 1 (definitely recommended), class 2 A (intervention of choice), class 2B (alternative intervention), class X (neutral), or class 3 (not recommended)]. For CPR of adults with shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation, 40 units AVP or 1 mg epinephrine is recommended (class 2B); patients with asystole or pulseless electrical activity should be resuscitated with epinephrine. AVP is not recommended for adult cardiac arrest patients with asystole or pulseless electrical activity; or pediatric cardiac arrest patients due to a lack of clinical data. Until definitive data about AVP vs. epinephrine effects during CPR are available, the present state of knowledge should be interpreted that two vasopressors are available for use instead of one.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Augmented spontaneous breathing and pulmonary gas exchange during pneumoperitoneum.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Ventilation of the lungs with positive end-expiratory pressure during pneumoperitoneum has been shown to improve the arterial partial pressure of oxygen. The implications of spontaneous breathing on pulmonary gas exchange remain unknown in this setting. We therefore sought to examine the influence of pressure-support ventilation with spontaneous breathing on gas exchange during simulated laparoscopy. METHODS: Ten pigs were subjected to pneumoperitoneum at a pressure of 15 cmH2O. Animals received, in a random order, pressure-support and pressure-controlled ventilation for 60 min per mode. Inert gas and haemodynamic measurements were performed before changing to a subsequent mode. RESULTS: Pressure-support ventilation was more efficient than pressure-controlled ventilation regarding perfusion of normal V(A)/Q lung areas (78 +/- 4% vs. 72 +/- 5%) (P < 0.05), alveolar-arterial partial pressure of oxygen difference (9.73 +/- 1.3 vs. 11.2 +/- 1.2 kPa) and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (14.93 +/- 1.6 vs. 13.7 +/- 2.0 kPa) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pressure-support ventilation resulted in significantly better gas exchange than pressure-controlled ventilation in this model of simulated laparoscopy.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Drug therapy in cardiopulmonary resuscitation].

In the year 2000, new international guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were published by the American Heart Association, and the European Resuscitation Council. These guidelines are evidence-based, indicating that these recommendations are based primarily on interpretation of data from clinical studies. Levels of recommendation range from class I (proven safe and useful), class IIa (intervention of choice), IIb (alternative intervention), indeterminate (research stage), and class III (unacceptable, no benefit). Administration of drugs during CPR should be performed intravenously or intraosseously (class IIa) or, as a second-line approach, endotracheally (class IIb). Due to lack of evidence, the standard dose of 1 mg epinephrine to treat ventricular fibrillation, pulseless electrical activity, or asystole was categorized as class indeterminate; while a single dose of 40 units vasopressin to treat adults with shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation received a IIb recommendation. Owing to a lack of clinical data, the use of vasopressin was neither recommended to treat adults with pulseless electrical activity or asystole, nor for the use in children. Both endothelin and calcium were not recommended for routine use (class indeterminate). Careful titration of acid-base status with 1 mL/kg 8.4% sodium bicarbonate should only be administered if indicated by blood gas analysis (class indeterminate). If 1 mg epinephrine fails to be effective in adult patients with pulseless electrical activity or asystole, 1 mg atropine can be administered (class indeterminate). Regarding antiarrhythmic drugs, 300 mg amiodarone (class IIb) showed the best results in shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation. The postresuscitation phase has the goal to achieve the best possible neurological performance after return of spontaneous circulation, which requires careful optimization of organ functions.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed2001

Developing a vasopressor combination in a pig model of adult asphyxial cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vasopressin versus epinephrine, and both drugs combined, in a porcine model of simulated adult asphyxial cardiac arrest. METHODS AND RESULTS: At approximately 7 minutes after the endotracheal tube had been clamped, cardiac arrest was present in 24 pigs and remained untreated for another 8 minutes. After 4 minutes of basic life support cardiopulmonary resuscitation, pigs were randomly assigned to receive, every 5 minutes, either epinephrine (45, 200, or 200 microgram/kg; n=6); vasopressin (0.4, 0.8, or 0.8 U/kg; n=6); or epinephrine combined with vasopressin (high-dose epinephrine/vasopressin combination, microgram/kg and U/kg: 45/0.4, 200/0.8, or 200/0.8; n=6; optimal-dose epinephrine/vasopressin combination, 45/0.4, 45/0.8, or 45/0.8; n=6). Mean+/-SEM coronary perfusion pressure was significantly (P<0.05) higher 90 seconds after high- or optimal-dose epinephrine/vasopressin combinations versus vasopressin alone and versus epinephrine alone (37+/-10 versus 25+/-7 versus 19+/-8 versus 6+/-3 mm Hg; 42+/-6 versus 40+/-5 versus 21+/-5 versus 14+/-6 mm Hg; and 39+/-6 versus 37+/-4 versus 9+/-3 versus 12+/-4 mm Hg, respectively). Six of 6 high-dose, 6 of 6 optimal-dose vasopressin/epinephrine combination, 0 of 6 vasopressin, and 1 of 6 epinephrine pigs had return of spontaneous circulation (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Epinephrine combined with vasopressin, but not epinephrine or vasopressin alone, maintained elevated coronary perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and resulted in significantly higher survival rates in this adult porcine asphyxial model.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Employing vasopressin during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and vasodilatory shock as a lifesaving vasopressor.

Epinephrine during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is being discussed controversially due to its beta-receptor mediated adverse effects such as increased myocardial oxygen consumption, ventricular arrhythmias, ventilation-perfusion defect, postresuscitation myocardial dysfunction, ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac failure. In the CPR laboratory simulating adult pigs with ventricular fibrillation or postcountershock pulseless electrical activity, vasopressin improved vital organ blood flow, cerebral oxygen delivery, resuscitability, and neurological recovery better than did epinephrine. In paediatric preparations with asphyxia, epinephrine was superior to vasopressin, whereas in both paediatric pigs with ventricular fibrillation, and adult porcine models with asphyxia, combinations of vasopressin and epinephrine proved to be highly effective. This may suggest that a different efficiency of vasopressors in paediatric vs. adult preparations; and different effects of dysrhythmic vs. asphyxial cardiac arrest on vasopressor efficiency may be of significant importance. Whether these theories can be extrapolated to humans is unknown at this point in time. In patients with out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation, a larger proportion of patients treated with vasopressin survived 24 h compared with patients treated with epinephrine; during in-hospital CPR, comparable short-term survival was found in groups treated with either vasopressin or epinephrine. Currently, a large trial of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients being treated with vasopressin vs. epinephrine is ongoing in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The new CPR guidelines of both the American Heart Association, and European Resuscitation Council recommend 40 U vasopressin intravenously, and 1 mg epinephrine intravenously as equally effective for the treatment of adult patients in ventricular fibrillation; however, no recommendation for vasopressin was made to date for adult patients with asystole and pulseless electrical activity, and paediatrics due to lack of clinical data. When adrenergic vasopressors were unable to maintain arterial blood pressure in patients with vasodilatory shock, continuous infusions of vasopressin ( approximately 0.04 to approximately 0.1 U/min) stabilised cardiocirculatory parameters, and even ensured weaning from catecholamines.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[The new international guidelines for cardipulmonary resuscitation: an analysis and comments on the most important changes].

In August 2000, the American Heart Association and the European Resuscitation Council published the conclusions of the International Guidelines 2000 Conference on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care which contains both the new recommendations and an in-depth review. The discussions and drafting began at a conference in March 1999, followed by a second conference in September 1999, both attended by approx. 250 participants and another conference in February 2000 which was attended by approx. 500 participants. Review of the current state of science, discussion and final consensus continued subsequently via email, conference calls, fax, and personal conversation. During the entire process, scientists and resuscitation councils from all over the world participated, with participants from the United States comprising approx. 60%, and scientists from outside of the United States comprising approx. 40%. In order to ensure that the CPR recomendations are not dominated by any given nation or resuscitation council, most topics were reviewed and interpretated by two scientists from the United States and two scientists from outside of the United States. Accordingly, changes in these new CPR recommendations are the result of an evidence-based review by worldwide experts. The most important changes in the recommendations according to the authors are discontinuation of the pulse-check for lay people, 500 ml instead of 800-1200 ml tidal volume during bag-valve-mask ventilation (FiO2 > 0.4) of a patient with an unprotected airway, verifying correct endotracheal intubation with capnography and an esophageal detector, employing mechanical devices such as interposed abdominal compression CPR, vest CPR, active-compression-decompression CPR, and the inspiratory threshold valve (ITV) CPR as alternatives or adjuncts to standard manual chest compressions, defibrillation with < 200 Joule biphasic instead of with 200-360 Joule monophasic impulses, vasopressin (40 units) and epinephrine (1 mg) as comparable drugs to treat patients with ventricular fibrillation, amiodarone (300 mg) for shock-refractory ventricular fibrillation and intravenous lysis for patients who have suffered a stroke.

American Heart Association↗
PubMed2001

The respiratory system during resuscitation: a review of the history, risk of infection during assisted ventilation, respiratory mechanics, and ventilation strategies for patients with an unprotected airway.

The fear of acquiring infectious diseases has resulted in reluctance among healthcare professionals and the lay public to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation. However, the benefit of basic life support for a patient in cardiopulmonary or respiratory arrest greatly outweighs the risk for secondary infection in the rescuer or the patient. The distribution of ventilation volume between lungs and stomach in the unprotected airway depends on patient variables such as lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, airway resistance and respiratory system compliance, and the technique applied while performing basic or advanced airway support, such as head position, inflation flow rate and time, which determine upper airway pressure. The combination of these variables determines gas distribution between the lungs and the oesophagus and subsequently, the stomach. During bag-valve-mask ventilation of patients in respiratory or cardiac arrest with oxygen supplementation (> or = 40% oxygen), a tidal volume of 6-7 ml kg(-1) ( approximately 500 ml) given over 1-2 s until the chest rises is recommended. For bag-valve-mask ventilation with room-air, a tidal volume of 10 ml kg(-1) (700-1000 ml) in an adult given over 2 s until the chest rises clearly is recommended. During mouth-to-mouth ventilation, a breath over 2 s sufficient to make the chest rise clearly (a tidal volume of approximately 10 ml kg(-1) approximately 700-1000 ml in an adult) is recommended.

History, Ancient↗
PubMed2001

Analysing ventricular fibrillation ECG-signals and predicting defibrillation success during cardiopulmonary resuscitation employing N(alpha)-histograms.

Mean fibrillation frequency may predict defibrillation success during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). N(alpha)-histogram analysis should be investigated as an alternative. After 4 min of cardiac arrest, and 3 versus 8 min of CPR, 25 pigs received either vasopressin or epinephrine (0.4, 0.4, and 0.8 U/kg vasopressin versus 45, 45, and 200 microg/kg epinephrine) every 5 min with defibrillation at 22 min. Before defibrillation, the N(alpha)-parameter histogramstart/histogramwidth and the mean fibrillation frequency in resuscitated versus non-resuscitated pigs were 2.9+/-0.4 versus 1.7+/-0.5 (P=0.0000005); and 9.5+/-1.7 versus 6.9+/-0.7 (P=0.0003). During the last minute prior to defibrillation, histogramstart/histogramwidth of > or =2.3 versus mean fibrillation frequency > or =8 Hz predicted successful defibrillation with subsequent return of a spontaneous circulation for more than 60 min with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 94 versus 82%, 96 versus 89%, 98 versus 93% and 90 versus 74%, respectively. We conclude, that N(alpha)-analysis was superior to mean fibrillation frequency analysis during CPR in predicting defibrillation success, and distinction between vasopressin versus epinephrine effects.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

Effects of epinephrine in a pig model of hypothermic cardiac arrest and closed-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation combined with active rewarming.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of epinephrine in a pig model of hypothermic cardiac arrest followed by closed-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation combined with active rewarming, simulating the clinical management of an arrested hypothermic patient in a hospital without cardiopulmonary bypass facilities. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized animal study. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Twelve 12- to 16-week-old domestic pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Pigs were surface cooled to a body core temperature of 28 degrees C. After 4 min of untreated cardiac arrest, manual closed-chest CPR and thoracic lavage with 40 degrees C warmed fluid were started. After 3 min of external chest compression animals were randomly assigned to receive epinephrine (45, 45 and 200 microg/kg) or saline placebo in 5-min intervals. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Coronary perfusion pressure was about 15 mmHg in placebo group pigs. Coronary perfusion pressure was significantly higher after epinephrine, but restoration of spontaneous circulation was not more frequent (one of six epinephrine versus three of six saline placebo pigs, P=0.34). After 45 microg/kg epinephrine the arterial PO(2) was significantly lower when compared to the saline placebo. The third 200 microg/kg epinephrine dose resulted in a significantly enhanced mixed venous hypercarbic acidosis. CONCLUSIONS: After a short 4-min period of hypothermic cardiac arrest, epinephrine may not be necessary to maintain coronary perfusion pressure around the threshold usually correlating with successful defibrillation, even during prolonged closed-chest CPR combined with active rewarming. The enhanced mixed venous hypercarbic acidosis in epinephrine-treated animals may support the argument against repeated or high dose epinephrine administration during hypothermic CPR.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Fibrillation power, an alternative method of ECG spectral analysis for prediction of countershock success in a porcine model of ventricular fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive prediction of defibrillation success after cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may help in determining the optimal time for a countershock, and thus increase the chance for survival. METHODS: In a porcine model (n=25) of prolonged cardiac arrest, advanced cardiac life support was provided by administration of two or three doses of either vasopressin or epinephrine after 3 or 8 min of basic life support. After 4 min of ventricular fibrillation and 18 min of life support, defibrillation was attempted. The denoised power spectral density of 10 s intervals of the ventricular fibrillation electrocardiogram (ECG) was estimated from averaged and smoothed Fourier transforms. We have eliminated the spectral contribution of artifacts from manual chest compressions and provide a definition for the contribution of ventricular fibrillation to the power spectral density. This contribution is quantified and termed "fibrillation power". RESULTS: We tested fibrillation power and two established methods in their discrimination of survivors (n=16) vs. non-survivors (n=9) in the last minute before the countershock. A fibrillation power > or =79 dB predicted successful defibrillation with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 98%, 98%, 99% and 97% while a mean fibrillation frequency > or =7.7 Hz was predictive with 85%, 83%, 90% and 77% and a mean amplitude > or =0.49 mV was predictive with 95%, 90%, 94% and 91%. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that fibrillation power is an alternative source of information on the status of a fibrillating heart and that it may match the established mean frequency and amplitude analysis of ECG in predicting successful countershock during CPR.

Animals↗