Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound of Brain Perfusion in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

To evaluate the feasibility and potential utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for real-time imaging of whole-brain perfusion during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), cardiac arrest was induced in 8- to 7-week-old 10-kg piglets (Sus scrofa domesticus). Contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed through a parietal cranial window in the coronal plane visualizing the thalami during hemodynamic-directed CPR. Whole-brain mean and maximum pixel intensities in each slice during resuscitation were calculated. Piglets were monitored for 24 hours postarrest. Seven piglets achieved return of spontaneous circulation and 6 survived to 24 hours. Of the 6 surviving piglets, 2 piglets demonstrated greater intra-CPR brain enhancement at maximum 73.2% and 42.1% and mean 36.7% and 31.9% enhancement above background, respectively, compared with maximum 5.8%, 22.9%, 6.0%, and 26.6% and mean 5.1%, 8.9%, 2.9%, and 6.6% above background, respectively, in the other 4. Intra-CPR average mean arterial pressures were similar between all 6 surviving piglets. One piglet achieved return of spontaneous circulation but expired 10 minutes later with enhancement maximum 45.2% and mean 18.9% enhancement above background. The final piglet did not achieve return of spontaneous circulation and exhibited minimal enhancement at maximum 2.8% and mean 0.9% enhancement above background. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can detect brain perfusion during CPR, identifying a spectrum of cerebral blood flow responses in t...
Source: Ultrasound Quarterly - Category: Radiology Tags: Original Research Source Type: research