Summary Blood samples were drawn at different steps during advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) among 11 patients suffering a cardiac arrest (CA) outside the hospital Arterial blood gases arterial glycemia and lactacidemia were studied from samples drawn while starting ACLS, when a restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) occured, and on admission a hospital or before stopping resuscitation if ROSC did not occur, ROSC occured in six out of 11 patients: eight patients died or the scene; three patients were admitted none of them survived more than 5 days All patients suffered severe mixed acidosis in the early stage (pH=6.9±0.25 and PaCO 2 =11.5.9 KPa) then at admission mainly a metabolic acidosis (pH=7.01±0.2 and PaCO 2 4.92±1.2 KPa). All patients showed hyperlactacidemia (initially, lactacidemia=14.7 mmol/L and on admission. 11.9.1 mmol/L) and hyperglycemia that worsened during resuscitation [initially, glycemia=14.4±7.2 mmol/L and on admission, 20±7.8mmol/L) These findings could lead to development of a strategy to control these disturbances which compromise the success of ACLS.
