Background: Epinephrine is a component of all resuscitation algorithms. Vasopressin is a pulmonary vasodilator and systemic vasopressor. We investigated the effect of epinephrine vs. vasopressin on survival and hemodynamics after neonatal porcine cardiac arrest (CA). Methods: A 4-min asphyxial CA was induced, after which cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was commenced. Animals were randomized to low-(LDE: 0.01 mg/kg) or high-dose epinephrine (HDE: 0.03 mg/kg), low-(LDV: 0.2 U/kg) or high-dose vasopressin (HDV: 0.4 U/kg), or control (saline). Clinical and echocardiography indexes were monitored. results: Sixty-nine animals were randomized. Survival was greater in HDV (n = 8 (89%); P < 0.05 ANOVA) vs. control (n = 7 (43%)) and LDE (n = 5 (36%)) but not vs. HDE (n = 7 (64%)) or LDV (n = 6 (75%)). Animals resuscitated with LDE required more shocks (2.5 (interquartile range: 2-6); P < 0.05) and higher doses of energy (15 J (interquartile range: 10-20); P < 0.05). Left ventricular output was comparable between groups, but a greater increase in superior vena caval flow was seen after HDV (P < 0.001 vs. control, LDE, and HDE). Plasma troponin was greatest in the HDE group (P < 0.05 vs. control and HDV). conclusion: Vasopressin results in improved survival, lower postresuscitation troponin, and less hemodynamic compromise after CA in newborn piglets. Vasopressin may be a candidate for testing in human neonates. t he need for active neonatal resuscitation is common with an incidence of 5-10%, although there is likely to be regional variability (1). Guidelines for drug use in neonatal resuscitation guidelines are based on extrapolations from adult literature. Pressors, almost invariably epinephrine, are recommended as core therapy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in order to enhance systemic perfusion (especially cerebral and coronary perfusion) by maintaining vascular tone while forward flow is generated by chest compressions. Epinephrine, although an integral part of every published protocol for neonatal resuscitation, may be associated with adverse effects (2-6); similar concerns exist in pediatric and adult cardiac arrest (CA). However, because of concerns associated with epinephrine (2,7), vasopressin was studied in the setting of asystolic CA. Vasopressin is an intense systemic vasoconstrictor, which may explain why it increases cerebral (and systemic) perfusion during experimental cardiac massage, as well as increasing cerebral oxygenation, neurological outcome, and resuscitation success following experimental .Vasopressin was first proposed as a resuscitation agent after endogenous vasopressin levels were found to be higher in successfully resuscitated patients compared with those who died (13). Evidence from a large, adult, multicenter, randomized controlled trial suggests it to be superior to epinephrine, when the nature of the CA was primary asystole (14). For the following reasons, vasopressin may be a good candidate for pressor support during CPR. First, CA in neonates is almost always due to asphy...