Retrospective Study Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 24(2) 2014, pp 208–214 doi: 10.1111/vec.12151 Acid base, electrolyte, glucose, and lactate values during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in dogs and cats Kate Hopper, BVSc, PhD, DACVECC; Angela Borchers, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC and Steven E. Epstein, DVM, DACVECC Abstract Objective – To report acid base, electrolyte, glucose, and lactate values collected during or immediately after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in dogs and cats. Design – Retrospective study. Setting – University Teaching Hospital. Animals – Thirty-two dogs and 10 cats. Interventions – None. Measurements and Main Results – Blood gas, electrolyte, glucose, and lactate values measured during CPR or within 5 minutes of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were retrospectively evaluated. The time of blood collection with respect to the occurrence of cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA), the initiation of CPR or ROSC was noted. Forty-two venous blood samples were analyzed, 24 collected during CPR and 18 samples were collected within 5 minutes of ROSC. Metabolic acidosis and hyperlactatemia were evident in all samples in the study while an increased PvCO 2 occurred in 88% of samples collected during CPR and in 61% of samples collected following ROSC. Hyperkalemia occurred in 65% of all cases, decreased ionized calcium was evident in 18%, hypoglycemia was evident in 21% while hyperglycemia was evident in 62%. There was no significant difference in any parameter evaluated between dogs and cats during CPR. There was no significant difference of any variable measured during the first 15 minutes of CPA versus those measured more than 15 minutes following CPA. When the values measured during the first 5 minutes of ROSC were compared to those measured during CPR, the pH and PvO 2 were significantly lower in the CPR group. Conclusions – Biochemical abnormalities including metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, ionized hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, and hyperglycemia can be identified during CPR and immediately following ROSC. The ther- apeutic and prognostic relevance of these changes are yet to be defined and may prove to be useful to guide patient management in the future. (J Vet Emerg Crit Care 2014; 24(2): 208–214) doi: 10.1111/vec.12151 Keywords: hypercapnia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, metabolic acidosis Introduction Cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) is associated with numer- ous biochemical changes including metabolic acidosis, electrolyte abnormalities, and glucose derangements. 1–6 Evaluation of blood gas, electrolyte, lactate, and glucose From the Department of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine (Hopper, Epstein); and William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (Borchers), University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616. The authors declare no conflicts of interests. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Kate Hopper, Department of Veterinary Surgical and Radiological Sci- ences, Room 2112 Tupper Hall, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616. Email: khopper@ucdavis.edu Submitted August 06, 2012; Accepted December 21, 2013. Abbreviations CPA cardiopulmonary arrest CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation ROSC return of spontaneous circulation concentrations during resuscitation may provide insight as to the cause of the arrest, can have the potential to guide therapy and may have prognostic value. 1, 7 Acid base and electrolyte changes during CPA and CPR have been described in several experimental an- imal studies and a few small groups of human clini- cal patients. Commonly reported abnormalities include hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, hyperlactatemia, and 208 C  Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2014