The impedance cardiogram recorded through two electrocardiogram/defibrillator pads as a determinant of cardiac arrest during experimental studies

Nicholas A. Cromie, John Desmond Allen, C Turner, J.M. Anderson, A.A. Jennifer Adgey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Laypersons are poor at emergency pulse checks (sensitivity 84%, specificity 36%). Guidelines indicate that pulse checks should not be performed. The impedance cardiogram (dZ/dt) is used to assess stroke volume. Can a novel defibrillator-based impedance cardiogram system be used to distinguish between circulatory arrest and other collapse states?

DESIGN: Animal study.

SETTING: University research laboratory.

SUBJECTS: Twenty anesthetized, mechanically ventilated pigs, weight 50-55 kg.

INTERVENTIONS: Stroke volume was altered by right ventricular pacing (160, 210, 260, and 305 beats/min). Cardiac arrest states were then induced: ventricular fibrillation (by rapid ventricular pacing) and, after successful defibrillation, pulseless electrical activity and asystole (by high-dose intravenous pentobarbitone).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The impedance cardiogram was recorded through electrocardiogram/defibrillator pads in standard cardiac arrest positions. Simultaneously recorded electro- and impedance cardiogram (dZ/dt) along with arterial blood pressure tracings were digitized during each pacing and cardiac arrest protocol. Five-second epochs were analyzed for sinus rhythm (20 before ventricular fibrillation, 20 after successful defibrillation), ventricular fibrillation (40), pulseless electrical activity (20), and asystole (20), in two sets of ten pigs (ten training, ten validation). Standard impedance cardiogram variables were noncontributory in cardiac arrest, so the fast Fourier transform of dZ/dt was assessed. During ventricular pacing, the peak amplitude of fast Fourier transform of dZ/dt (between 1.5 and 4.5 Hz) correlated with stroke volume (r2 = .3, p < .001). In cardiac arrest, a peak amplitude of fast Fourier transform of dZ/dt of < or = 4 dB x ohm x rms indicated no output with high sensitivity (94% training set, 86% validation set) and specificity (98% training set, 90% validation set).

CONCLUSIONS: As a powerful clinical marker of circulatory collapse, the fast Fourier transformation of dZ/dt (impedance cardiogram) has the potential to improve emergency care by laypersons using automated defibrillators.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1578-1584
Number of pages7
JournalCritical Care Medicine
Volume36
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

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