Insufficient Oxygen Supplementation During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Leads to Unfavorable Biological Response While Hyperoxygenation Contributes to Metabolic Compensation

Abstract

Sudden cardiac arrest (CA) is the third leading cause of death. Immediate reoxygenation with high concentrations of supplemental oxygen (O₂) during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is recommended according to the current guidelines for adult CA. However, a point in controversy exists because of the known harm of prolonged exposure to 100% O₂. Therefore, there have been much debate on an optimal use of supplemental O₂, yet little is known about the duration and dosage of O₂ administration. To test whether supplying a high concentration of O₂ during CPR and post resuscitation is beneficial or harmful, rats subjected to 10-minute asphyxia CA were administered either 100% O₂ (n = 8) or 30% O₂ (n = 8) for 2 hours after CPR. Two hours after initiating CPR, the brain, lung, and heart tissues were collected to compare mRNA gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic and oxidative stress-related markers. The 100% O₂ group had significantly shorter time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) than the 30% O₂ group (62.9 ± 2.2 and 77.5 ± 5.9 seconds, respectively, P < 0.05). Arterial blood gas analysis revealed that the 100% O₂ group had significantly higher PaCO₂ (49.4 ± 4.9 mmHg and 43.0 ± 3.0 mmHg, P < 0.01), TCO₂ (29.8 ± 2.7 and 26.6 ± 1.1 mmol/L, P < 0.05), HCO₃⁻ (28.1 ± 2.4 and 25.4 ± 1.2 mmol/L, P < 0.05), and BE (2.6 ± 2.3 and 0.1 ± 1.4 mmol/L, P < 0.05) at 2 hours after initiating CPR, but no changes in pH (7.37 ± 0.03 and 7.38 ± 0.03, ns). Inflammation- (Il6, Tnf) and apoptosis- (Casp3) related mRNA gene expression levels were significantly low in the 100% O₂ group in the brain, however, oxidative stress moderator Hmox1 increased in the 100% O₂ group. Likewise, mRNA gene expression of Icam1, Casp9, Bcl2, and Bax were low in the 100% O₂ group in the lung. Contrarily, mRNA gene expression of Il1b and Icam1 were low in the 30% O₂ group in the heart. Supplying 30% O₂ during and after CPR significantly delayed the time to ROSC and increased inflammation−/apoptosis- related gene expression in the brain and lung, indicating that insufficient O₂ was associated with unfavorable biological responses post CA, while prolonged exposure to high-concentration O₂ should be still cautious in general.