One oxygen breath shortened the time to return of spontaneous circulation in severely asphyxiated piglets

Aim: Asphyxiated neonates should be resuscitated with air, but it remains unclear if oxygen supplementation is needed in ineffectively ventilated newborn infants. We studied the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) with oxygen or air in an experimental model of inadequate ventilation. Methods: Asphyxia was induced in 16 newborn piglets until their heart rate was 150 bpm, MAP >40 mmHg and no subsequent CCCM. Results: Before resuscitation, the median arterial pH was 6.73. At 10 minutes, no piglets in the oxygen group needed CCCM, while all did in the air group (p < 0.001). The median time to ROSC was 60 seconds with oxygen and 845 seconds with air (p < 0.001). No brain tissue hyperoxia occurred. Conclusion: When ventilation was inadequate, one oxygen breath reduced time to ROSC in piglets with severe metabolic and respiratory acidosis