| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 4 | Page : 491-498 |
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Use of pentoxifylline for patients in the postcardiac arrest status
Noha M Elsharnouby MD, MBBCH 1, Nahla F Abou Elezz2
1 Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11361, Egypt
2 Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11361, Egypt
Correspondence Address:
Noha M Elsharnouby
3 Ismail Fahmy Street, Seven Building Square, Heliopolise, Cairo
Egypt
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1687-7934.172669
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Background
Postcardiac arrest syndrome has a unique pathophysiological process involving multiple organs. Pentoxifylline can modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial function, and may thus reduce multiple organ dysfunction in postcardiac arrest patients and affect the outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravenous pentoxifylline on organ functions and outcome in postcardiac arrest patients.
Materials and methods
Forty-two patients admitted to the ICU after inhospital cardiac arrest of both cardiac and noncardiac origin were included in this prospective double-blinded randomized two parallel-group study. Group P received a first dose of intravenous pentoxifylline 5 mg/kg over 5 min, followed by a 1.5 mg/kg/day infusion with a maximum of 1800 mg/day for 3 days, whereas group C received an equal volume of saline over 5 min and then infusion for 3 days as well. The primary outcome was the number of organ dysfunction-free and organ failure-free days, whereas the secondary outcome included time to initial acceptable blood pressure and systemic perfusion, number of acceptable blood pressure and systemic perfusion days, arterial lactate, Cerebral Performance Category score, duration of inotropic support, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, ICU survival, and adverse events.
Results
There was a significant increase in the number of organ dysfunction-free days [9 (3) vs. 6 (3), P = 0.003] and organ failure-free days [9 (3) vs. 7 (3), P = 0.008], accompanied by an increased number of acceptable blood pressure and systemic perfusion days [8 (3) vs. 6 (4), P = 0.01], with a shorter time to reach initial acceptable blood pressure and systemic perfusion [68 (51) vs. 38 (36), P = 0.03 ] and a significant improvement in the Cerebral Performance Category score on days 6, 7, and 14 in group P compared with group C. The arterial lactate level, duration of mechanical ventilation, duration of inotropic support, and ICU length of stay were significantly reduced in group P, along with an improvement in ICU survival that did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion
We conclude that administration of intravenous pentoxifylline in postcardiac arrest patients improved organ function and decreased length of ICU stay, with no adverse effects. |
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