The Latest in Resuscitation Research: Highlights From the 2020 American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium

Analyzing resuscitation conference content through the lens of the chain of survival

Background

Resuscitation science today often focuses on advanced topics such as extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation or targeted temperature management. However, the specific topics presented at resuscitation conferences have not been thoroughly analyzed. We thus analyzed resuscitation conferences abstracts using a chain of survival framework.

Methods

Two major resuscitation conferences (Resuscitation in Greece and Resuscitation Science Symposium in the USA) took place in the fall of 2024. We categorized all abstracts using chain of survival framework, analyzing authors' countries by geography and income. Additionally, artificial intelligence, deep learning, and machine learning approaches for data analysis were examined.

Results

"Recognition and prevention" was the top category at both conferences, comprising 37% of topics at Resuscitation 2024 and 32% at Resuscitation Science Symposium 2024. "Early Call for Help", "High-quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation", and "Recovery and rehabilitation" were underrepresented, with each <8%. At Resuscitation Science Symposium 2024, "Post-cardiac arrest care" (31%) and "Early defibrillation and advanced life support" (26%) were emphasized, compared to 21% each at Resuscitation 2024 for both chains. Resuscitation 2024 featured participants from 51 countries while Resuscitation Science Symposium 2024 included participants from 19 countries, predominantly high-income ones. At Resuscitation 2024, 54 abstracts, and at Resuscitation Science Symposium 2024, 47 abstracts used machine learning, each with one employing artificial intelligence. None used deep learning.

Conclusions

Conference abstracts aligned mainly with the early links of chain of survival and employing machine learning as a data analysis tool. Expanding participation from low-income countries could enhance inclusivity and contribute valuable perspectives to resuscitation science.

Family-witnessed resuscitation in the emergency department in a low-income country

Cardiac arrest is often a sudden and traumatic event. Family-witnessed resuscitation was first recommended by the American Heart Association over two decades ago. Since then several global professional bodies have identified a range of potential benefits for relatives; however, it remains contentious. For nurses working in emergency departments (EDs) in low-income countries, the evidence for, and experience of, family-witnessed resuscitation is limited. This article critically appraises the literature relating to the perceptions of medical professionals and critically ill patients and their families about communication, family presence and their involvement during resuscitation in the ED. Three themes relating to family-witnessed resuscitation in the ED were identified by a focused literature search. These were: leadership and communication, limitation of policies and guidelines and relatives' views. The recommendations from this review will be used to develop emergency and trauma nursing practice guidelines in Zambia, a low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa.