Background and objectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of terlipressin (TP) vs. adrenaline (ADR) in increasing coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) and return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in swine CPR. Methods: Under anesthesia with ketamine/thiopental, ventricular fibrillation was induced in 44 female immature pigs, remaining unassisted for 10 minutes, followed by 2 minutes of manual CPR (100 compression/10 ventilations/min with air). Animals were, then, divided into four groups: 1) ADR (45μg.kg -1); 2) saline-placebo (10mL); 3) TP 20μg.kg -1); and TP (20μg.kg -1) + ADR (45μg.kg -1). Defibrillation was performed after 2 minutes, observing surviving animals for a 30-minute period. Electrocardiogram, systemic BP, DBP, and PetCO 2 were monitored continuously. Results: Terlipressin did not differ from placebo regarding the effects on CPP, with low rates of ROSC in both groups (1/11 vs. 2/11; p = NS). Adrenaline increased CPP from 13 ± 12 to 54 ± 15 mmHg (p < 0.0001), similar effect to TP + ADR (from 21 ± 10 to 45 ± 13 mmHg; p < 0.0001), with high rates of ROSC/survivors in both groups (10/11 vs. 9/11, respectively). Among survivors, greater MAP was observed in the TP + ADR group vs. ADR (105 ± 19. mmHg vs. 76 ± 21. mmHg; p = 0.0157) groups. Conclusions: Adrenaline and TP + ADR were effective on maintaining CPP/ROSC in this experimental model, but isolated TP did not differ from placebo. However, in surviving animals in the TP + ADR group, greater hemodynamic stability was observed after ROSC, suggesting that TP can be a useful medication in the management of post-CPR hypotension. © 2011 Elsevier Editora Ltda.616728735Neumar, R.W., Otto, C.W., Link, M.S., Part 8: Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support: 2010 American Heart Association for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (2010) Circulation, 122, pp. S729-S767Gomes, A.M.C.G., Timerman, A., Souza, C.A.M., In-hospital postcardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation survival prognostic factors (2005) Arq Bras Cardiol, 85, pp. 262-271Singer, M., Arginine-vasopressin vs. terlipressin in the treatment of shock states (2008) Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol, 22, pp. 359-368Morelli, A., Ertmer, C., Rehberg, S., Continuous terlipressin versus vasopressin infusion in septic shock (TERLIVAP): a randomized controlled pilot study (2009) Crit Care, 13, pp. R130Matok, I., Vardi, A., Augarten, A., Beneficial effects of terlipressin in prolonged pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A case series (2007) Crit Care Med, 35, pp. 1161-1164Gil-Antón, J., López-Herce, J., Morteruel, E., Pediatric cardiac arrest refractory to advanced life support: Is there a role for terlipressin? (2010) Pediatr Crit Care Med, 11, pp. 139-141López-Herce, J., Fernández, B., Urbano, J., Terlipressin versus adrenaline in an infant animal model of asphyxial cardiac arrest (2010) Intensive Care Med, 36, pp. 1248-1255Liu, D., Shao, Y., Luan, X., Comparison of ketamine-pentobarbital anesthesia and fentanyl-pentobarbital anesthesia for open-heart surgery in minipigs (2009) Lab Anim (NY), 38, pp. 234-240Sillberg, V.A.H., Perry, J.J., Stiell, I.C., Is the combination of vasopressin and epinephrine superior to repeated doses of epinephrine alone in the treatment of cardiac arrest - A systematic review (2008) Resuscitation, 79, pp. 380-386Kam, P.C., Williams, S., Yoong, F.F., Vasopressin and terlipressin: pharmacology and its clinical relevance (2004) Anaesthesia, 59, pp. 993-1001