Most Important Outcomes Research Papers on Cardiac Arrest and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Introduction

Cardiac arrest is a common and treatable cause of death and disability. Each year ≈424 000 people experience emergency medical services (EMS)-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the United States.¹ The actual burden of OHCA is likely significantly higher because a substantial number go unassessed. In a prospective analysis of deaths in a US county, 5.6% of annual mortality was attributable to cardiac arrest.² Many patients who suffer OHCA do not receive prompt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Among those who receive CPR, a large number do not survive because of an inability to restore spontaneous circulation, or anoxic cerebral injury even after restoration of circulation. Nevertheless, when timely interventions are provided, a small proportion of patients (10.4% of all EMS-treated OHCA) recover to resume normal lives. The key therapeutic interventions that make the difference between life and death, metaphorically characterized as the 5 links in a chain of survival by the American Heart Association, include: (1) immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the EMS, (2) early CPR with emphasis on chest compression, (3) rapid defibrillation, (4) effective advanced life support, and (5) integrated postcardiac arrest care.³

Resuscitation science has undergone major advances since the origins of modern CPR >50 years ago.⁴ The field continues to be dynamic with emergence of new therapies such as therapeutic hypothermia⁵ and improvements in systems of care. However, many questions remain on issues such as optimum compression rate, efficacy of chest compression only CPR (CCCPR), dispatcher-assisted CPR, and benefits of postresuscitation measures such as hypothermia. A critical challenge also lies in the translation of resuscitation science into practice. To improve outcomes, each of the links in the chain of survival needs to be executed promptly and effectively. There remain several lacunae, which need to be overcome to develop an …