In a porcine model of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), we investigated changes in the plasma levels of 8-iso-PGF(2alpha), a marker for oxidative injury, and 15-keto-dihydro-PGF(2alpha), an inflammatory response indicator during the post-resuscitation period after cardiac arrest. Twelve piglets were subjected to either 2 or 5 min (VF2 and VF5 group) of ventricular fibrillation (VF) followed by 5 min of closed-chest CPR. Six piglets without cardiac arrest were used as controls. In VF5 group, 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) in the jugular bulb plasma (draining the brain) increased four-fold. Jugular bulb 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) in the control group remained unchanged. The 15-keto-dihydro-PGF(2alpha) also increased four-fold in the VF5 group. Thus, 8-iso-PGF(2alpha) and 15-keto-dihydro-PGF(2alpha) measurements in jugular bulb plasma may be used as biomarkers for quantification of free radical catalyzed oxidative brain injury and inflammatory response in reperfusion injury.