Effect of Intravenous Nutrient Solutions on Ventricular Fibrillation in the Hypothermic Dog

Introduction  A high incidence of ventricular fibrillation in dogs during general hypothermia at body temperatures below 28 C (82.4 F) has been reported.^1-4 A few pharmacological agents have been evaluated for their effects in reducing the incidence of fibrillation at low temperatures.^5,6 It is noteworthy that the agents so far reported were administered after the animal had reached the desired hypothermic level.Recently, aminoacetic acid (glycine) was shown to be of thermogenic value by its ability to aid in rapid rewarming to normal body temperature.⁷ Furthermore, a prolongation of cooling time was attributed to the aminoacetic acid administration, which began prior to ice-water immersion. Amino-acetic acid has also been shown to possess an antiarrhythmic effect in cyclopropane-epinephrine-induced ventricular arrhythmias⁸ and in hypothermia.⁹ Evidence, therefore, suggests that aminoacetic acid possesses both thermogenic and antiarrhythmic properties.The present study was performed to test whether these effects were