Effects of Flunarizine on Recovery of Cerebral Function following Cardiac Arrest

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Abstract
A 10-min cardiac arrest was produced in alfentanil-anesthetized dogs by electrical fibrillation of the heart. Recovery of cerebral function was monitored by 3 separate EEG techniques and visual assessment of neurological deficit. The EEG techniques were visual scoring, broad-band power spectral analysis and period-amplitude analysis. The treatment group (n = 8) received flunarizine (0.1 mg/kg i.v.) at the beginning of resuscitation, while control animals (n = 8) were given the drug vehicle. A significant improvement in the visual EEG score and neurologic deficit 6 h after insult was noted flunarizine-treated dogs. The extent of neurologic recovery was significant correlated with the visual EEG score, with the relative power in the .alpha. frequency band (7.5-13.5 c/s) and with the percentage of zero-cross frequency.