Infusion of five percent dextrose increases mortality and morbidity following six minutes of cardiac arrest in resuscitated dogs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of dextrose administration during and following cardiac resuscitation on mortality and morbidity. Thirty-one dogs anesthetized with halothane were subjected to six minutes of ventricular fibrillation and were resuscitated with open chest cardiac message. All dogs were successfully resuscitated. Thirteen received no dextrose infusion and were fully ambulatory, eating and drinking at 24 hours. Ten of the 18 dogs receiving an infusion of 5% dextrose died before 24 hours and the eight that survived were profoundly impaired. Significantly greater neurologic deficits were recorded for dogs with higher blood glucose concentrations. We conclude that the inclusion of dextrose in fluids used in resuscitation increases mortality and morbidity.