During cardiac arrest, the brain’s oxygen supply is cut off, and even if CPR is successfully administered, the circulating blood contains only 25 percent of baseline oxygen levels. Because significantly reduced blood oxygen levels may result in the degeneration of vital organs such as the brain, new neuroprotection strategies are essential to preventing brain deterioration during cardiac arrest.

At the Parnia Lab, we have been researching methods to protect the brain from deteriorating during cardiac arrest and currently have two ongoing neuroprotection studies.

In one study, a treatment group receives a dose of magnesium sulfate post-cardiac arrest, while the treatment group in the other study receives a combination of the following medications: magnesium, memantine, perampanel, propofol, thiamine, vitamin E, vitamin C, coenzyme q10, minocycline, hydrocortisone and aspirin.

The purpose of these studies is to test the feasibility, procedure, and safety of administering neuroprotective medications during cardiac arrest. The effectiveness of the medications at preventing neuronal cell death will be measured by examining neuronal injury data at predetermined intervals after a cardiac arrest.