A comprehensive neuromonitoring approach in a large animal model of cardiac arrest

Anoxic brain injuries represent the main determinant of poor outcome after cardiac arrest (CA). Large animal models have been described to investigate new treatments during CA and post-resuscitation phase, but a detailed model that includes extensive neuromonitoring is lacking.Before an electrically-induced 10-minute CA and resuscitation, 46 adult pigs underwent neurosurgery for placement of a multifunctional probe (intracranial pressure or ICP, tissue oxygen tension or PbtO42 animals underwent the CA procedure and 41 achieved the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). In 4 cases (8.6%) an adverse event took place during preparation, but only in two cases (4.3%) this was related to the neurosurgery. In 6 animals (13.3%) the minor complications that occurred resolved after probe repositioning.Herein we provide a detailed comprehensive neuromonitoring approach in a large animal model of CA that might help future research.