Abstract
DC countershock (CS) has produced myocardial necrosis in adult patients and experimental animals. No data exist concerning the vulnerability of the newborn myocardium to CS. Accordingly, the dose-response of the piglet (mean age 8.2 days) myocardium to CS was assessed using the radionuclide Technetium 99m Pyrophosphate (TP) which selectively accumulates in necrotic tissue. Injury was deemed present if samples of heart muscle 24 hours post CS had a TP uptake 3 times control values. Ten animals given <125 joules/kg (J/kg) as single or multiple shocks showed no accumulation of radionuclide. Two of 5 piglets receiving 125 to 160 J/kg inclusively showed myocardial lesions with 7.0±9.7% injured free wall and a weighted average sample to normal ratio (S:N) of 3.5±4.8. All 6 animals given >160 J/kg had gross necrotic lesions and averaged 18.2±8.4% free wall injury with an S:N of 15.6±7.5.
These studies indicate the myocardial necrosis only occurs with very high levels of CS in the newborn piglet and suggest the relative safety of the recommended dosage level of 2 J/kg for single or multiple applications in the newborn infant.
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Gaba, D., Zaret, B. & Talner, N. 105 EFFECT OF DC COUNTERSHOCK (CS) ON THE MYOCARDIUM OF THE NEWBORN PIGLET. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 381 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00110
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00110
