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To derive and initially validate a brief bedside clinical decision support tool that identifies emergency department patients at high risk of substantial, persistent posttraumatic stress symptoms after a motor vehicle collision.Derivation (n=1,282, 19 ED sites) and validation (n=282, 11 separate ED sites) data were obtained from adults prospectively enrolled in the Advancing Understanding of RecOvery afteR traumA study who were discharged from the ED after motor vehicle collision-related trauma. The primary outcome was substantial posttraumatic stress symptoms at 3 months (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 ≥38). Logistic regression derivation models were evaluated for discriminative ability using the area under the curve and the accuracy of predicted risk probabilities (Brier score). Candidate posttraumatic stress predictors assessed in these models (n=265) spanned a range of sociodemographic, baseline health, peritraumatic, and mechanistic domains. The final model selection was based on performance and ease of administration.Significant 3-month posttraumatic stress symptoms were common in the derivation (27%) and validation (26%) cohort. The area under the curve and Brier score of the final 8-question tool were 0.82 and 0.14 in the derivation cohort and 0.76 and 0.17 in the validation cohort.This simple 8-question tool demonstrates promise to risk-stratify individuals with substantial posttraumatic stress symptoms who are discharged to home after a motor vehicle collision. Both external validation of this instrument, and work to further develop more accurate tools, are needed. Such tools might benefit public health by enabling the conduct of preventive intervention trials and assisting the growing number of EDs that provide services to trauma survivors aimed at promoting psychological recovery.

Dissociation, a disruption or discontinuity in psychological functioning, is often linked with worse psychiatric symptoms; however, the prognostic value of dissociation after trauma is inconsistent. Determining whether trauma-related dissociation is uniquely predictive of later outcomes would enable early identification of at-risk trauma populations. The authors conducted the largest prospective longitudinal biomarker study of persistent dissociation to date to determine its predictive capacity for adverse psychiatric outcomes following acute trauma.All data were part of the Freeze 2 data release from the Advancing Understanding of Recovery After Trauma (AURORA) study. Study participants provided self-report data about persistent derealization (N=1,464), a severe type of dissociation, and completed a functional MRI emotion reactivity task and resting-state scan 2 weeks posttrauma (N=145). Three-month follow-up reports were collected of posttraumatic stress, depression, pain, anxiety symptoms, and functional impairment.Derealization was associated with increased ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) activation in the emotion reactivity task and decreased resting-state vmPFC connectivity with the cerebellum and orbitofrontal cortex. In separate analyses, brain-based and self-report measures of persistent derealization at 2 weeks predicted worse 3-month posttraumatic stress symptoms, distinct from the effects of childhood maltreatment history and current posttraumatic stress symptoms.The findings suggest that persistent derealization is both an early psychological and biological marker of worse later psychiatric outcomes. The neural correlates of trauma-related dissociation may serve as potential targets for treatment engagement to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder. These results underscore dissociation assessment as crucial following trauma exposure to identify at-risk individuals, and they highlight an unmet clinical need for tailored early interventions.

Childhood trauma is a known risk factor for trauma and stress-related disorders in adulthood. However, limited research has investigated the impact of childhood trauma on brain structure linked to later posttraumatic dysfunction. We investigated the effect of childhood trauma on white matter microstructure after recent trauma and its relationship with future posttraumatic dysfunction among trauma-exposed adult participants (n = 202) recruited from emergency departments as part of the AURORA Study. Participants completed self-report scales assessing prior childhood maltreatment within 2-weeks in addition to assessments of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and dissociation symptoms within 6-months of their traumatic event. Fractional anisotropy (FA) obtained from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) collected at 2-weeks and 6-months was used to index white matter microstructure. Childhood maltreatment load predicted 6-month PTSD symptoms (b = 1.75, SE = 0.78, 95% CI = [0.20, 3.29]) and inversely varied with FA in the bilateral internal capsule (IC) at 2-weeks (p = 0.0294, FDR corrected) and 6-months (p = 0.0238, FDR corrected). We observed a significant indirect effect of childhood maltreatment load on 6-month PTSD symptoms through 2-week IC microstructure (b = 0.37, Boot SE = 0.18, 95% CI = [0.05, 0.76]) that fully mediated the effect of childhood maltreatment load on PCL-5 scores (b = 1.37, SE = 0.79, 95% CI = [−0.18, 2.93]). IC microstructure did not mediate relationships between childhood maltreatment and depressive, anxiety, or dissociative symptomatology. Our findings suggest a unique role for IC microstructure as a stable neural pathway between childhood trauma and future PTSD symptoms following recent trauma. Notably, our work did not support roles of white matter tracts previously found to vary with PTSD symptoms and childhood trauma exposure, including the cingulum bundle, uncinate fasciculus, and corpus callosum. Given the IC contains sensory fibers linked to perception and motor control, childhood maltreatment might impact the neural circuits that relay and process threat-related inputs and responses to trauma.

BackgroundPatients exposed to trauma often experience high rates of adverse post-traumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae (APNS). The biologic mechanisms promoting APNS are currently unknown, but the microbiota-gut-brain axis offers an avenue to understanding mechanisms as well as possibilities for intervention. Microbiome composition at the time of trauma exposure has been poorly examined regarding neuropsychiatric outcomes. We aimed to determine whether baseline the gut microbiomes of trauma-exposed emergency department patients who later develop APNS have dysfunctional gut microbiome profiles and discover potential associated mechanisms.MethodsWe performed metagenomic analysis on stool samples (n=51) from a subset of adults enrolled in the Advancing Understanding of RecOvery afteR traumA (AURORA) study. Twelve-week post-trauma outcomes for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (PTSD checklist for DSM-5), normalized depression scores (PROMIS Depression Short Form 8b) and somatic symptom counts were collected. Generalized linear models were created for each outcome using microbial abundances and relevant demographics. Mixed-effect random forest machine learning models were used to identify associations between APNS outcomes and microbial features and metabolic pathways.ResultsMicrobial species, includingFlavonifactor plauttiandRuminococcus gnavus,which are associated with inflammation and poor health outcomes, were found to be important in predicting worse APNS outcomes. Notably, worse APNS outcomes were highly predicted by decreased L-arginine related pathway genes and increased citrulline and ornithine pathways.ConclusionsPro-inflammatory microbes that are enriched in individuals who develop APNS. More notably, we identified a biological mechanism through which the gut microbiome reduces global arginine bioavailability, which also has been demonstrated in patients with PTSD.

BACKGROUND: A better understanding of the extent to which prior occurrences of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive episode (MDE) predict psychopathological reactions to subsequent traumas might be useful in targeting post-traumatic preventive interventions. METHODS: Data come from 1,306 patients presenting to 29 U.S. emergency departments (EDs) after a motor vehicle collision (MVC) in the Advancing Understanding of RecOvery afteR traumA (AURORA) study. Patients completed self-reports in the ED and 2-weeks, 8-weeks, and 3-months post-MVC. Associations of pre-MVC probable PTSD and probable MDE histories with subsequent 3-months post-MVC probable PTSD and probable MDE were examined along with mediation through intervening peritraumatic, 2-week, and 8-week disorders. RESULTS: 27.6% of patients had 3-month post-MVC probable PTSD and/or MDE. Pre-MVC lifetime histories of these disorders were not only significant (relative-risk=2.6–7.4) but were dominant (63.1% population attributable risk proportion [PARP]) predictors of this 3-month outcome, with 46.6% prevalence of the outcome among patients with pre-MVC disorder histories versus 9.9% among those without such histories. The associations of pre-MVC lifetime disorders with the 3-month outcome were mediated largely by 2-week and 8-week probable PTSD and MDE (PARP decreasing to 22.8% with controls for these intervening disorders). Decomposition showed that pre-MVC lifetime histories predicted both onset and persistence of these intervening disorders as well as higher conditional prevalence of the 3-month outcome in the presence of these intervening disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Assessments of pre-MVC PTSD and MDE histories and follow-ups at 2-weeks and 8-weeks could help target early interventions for psychopathological reactions to MVCs.

OBJECTIVE: Major negative life events, such as trauma exposure, can play a key role in igniting or exacerbating psychopathology. However, few disorders are diagnosed with respect to precipitating events, and the role of these events in the unfolding of new psychopathology is not well understood. The authors conducted a multisite transdiagnostic longitudinal study of trauma exposure and related mental health outcomes to identify neurobiological predictors of risk, resilience, and different symptom presentations. METHODS: A total of 146 participants (discovery cohort: N = 69; internal replication cohort: N = 77) were recruited from emergency departments within 72 hours of a trauma and followed for the next 6 months with a survey, MRI, and physiological assessments. RESULTS: Task-based functional MRI 2 weeks after a motor vehicle collision identified four clusters of individuals based on profiles of neural activity reflecting threat reactivity, reward reactivity, and inhibitory engagement. Three clusters were replicated in an independent sample with a variety of trauma types. The clusters showed different longitudinal patterns of posttrauma symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a novel characterization of heterogeneous stress responses shortly after trauma exposure, identifying potential neuroimaging-based biotypes of trauma resilience and psychopathology.

Recent reports have questioned the efficacy of intraosseous (IO) drug administration for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation. Our aim was to determine whether prehospital administration of resuscitative medications via the IO route was associated with lower rates of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival to hospital discharge than peripheral intravenous (IV) infusion in the setting of OHCA.We obtained data on all OHCA patients receiving prehospital IV or IO drug administration from the three most populous counties in Michigan over three years. Data was from the Michigan Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) database. The association between route of drug administration and outcomes was tested using a matched propensity score analysis.From a total of 10,626 OHCA patients, 6869 received parenteral drugs during their prehospital resuscitation (37.8% by IO) and were included in analysis. Unadjusted outcomes were lower in patients with IO vs. IV access: 18.3% vs. 23.8% for ROSC (p0.001), 3.2% vs. 7.6% for survival to hospital discharge (p0.001), and 2.0% vs. 5.8% for favorable neurological function (p0.001). After adjustment, IO route remained associated with lower odds of sustained ROSC (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63-0.81, p0.001), hospital survival (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.37-0.62, p0.001), and favorable neurological outcomes (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.30-0.57, p0.001).In this cohort of OHCA patients, the use of prehospital IO drug administration was associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Introduction In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Detroit, an earlier termination of resuscitation protocol was initiated in March 2020. To characterize pre-hospital cardiac arrest careduring COVID-19 in Detroit, we analyzed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) rate of ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) and patient characteristics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods OHCA data was analyzed between March 10th, 2020 – April 30th, 2020 and March 10th, 2019 – April 30th, 2019. ROSC, patient demographics, arrest location, initial rhythms, bystander CPR and field termination were compared before and during the pandemic. Descriptive statistics were utilized to compare arrest characteristics between years, and the odds of achieving vs. not achieving ROSC. 2020 vs. 2019 as a predictor for ROSC was assessed with logistic regression. Results 471 patients were included. Arrests increased to 291 during the pandemic vs. 180 in 2019 (62% increase). Age (mean difference + 6; 95% CI: +2.4 to +9.5), arrest location (nursing home OR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.42–4.31; public place OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.25–0.88), BLS response (OR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.47–0.99), and field termination of resuscitation (OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.36–4.07) differed significantly in 2020 compared to 2019. No significant difference was found in the confounder-adjusted odds of ROSC in 2020 vs 2019 (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.34–1.11). Conclusion OHCA increased by 62% during COVID-19 in Detroit, without a significant change in prehospital ROSC. The rate of ROSC remained similar despite the implementation of an early termination of resuscitation protocol in response to COVID-19.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a diagnostic challenge in emergency medicine. Clinical decision aids (CDAs) like the Pulmonary Embolism Rule-Out Criteria (PERC) are sensitive but poorly specific; serial CDA use may improve specificity. The goal of this before-and-after study was to determine if serial use of existing CDAs in a novel diagnostic algorithm safely decreases the use of CT pulmonary angiograms (CTPA). This was a retrospective before-and-after study conducted at an urban ED with 105,000 annual visits. Our algorithm uses PERC, Wells’ score, and D-dimer in series, before moving to CTPA. The algorithm was introduced in January, 2017. Use of CDAs and D-dimer in the 24 months pre- and 12 months post-intervention were obtained by chart review. The algorithm’s effect on CTPA ordering was assessed by comparing volume 5 years pre- and 3 years post-intervention, adjusted for ED volume. Mean CTPAs per 1000 adult ED visits was 11.1 in the 5 pre-intervention years and 9.9 in the 3 post-intervention years (p

This 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations on basic life support summarizes evidence evaluations performed for 20 topics that were prioritized by the Basic Life Support Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. The evidence reviews include 16 systematic reviews, 3 scoping reviews, and 1 evidence update. Per agreement within the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, new or revised treatment recommendations were only made after a systematic review. Systematic reviews were performed for the following topics: dispatch diagnosis of cardiac arrest, use of a firm surface for CPR, sequence for starting CPR (compressions-airway-breaths versus airway-breaths-compressions), CPR before calling for help, duration of CPR cycles, hand position during compressions, rhythm check timing, feedback for CPR quality, alternative techniques, public access automated external defibrillator programs, analysis of rhythm during chest compressions, CPR before defibrillation, removal of foreign-body airway obstruction, resuscitation care for suspected opioid-associated emergencies, drowning, and harm from CPR to victims not in cardiac arrest. The topics that resulted in the most extensive task force discussions included CPR during transport, CPR before calling for help, resuscitation care for suspected opioid-associated emergencies, feedback for CPR quality, and analysis of rhythm during chest compressions. After discussion of the scoping reviews and the evidence update, the task force prioritized several topics for new systematic reviews.

This2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendationsfor advanced life support includes updates on multiple advanced life support topics addressed with 3 different types of reviews. Topics were prioritized on the basis of both recent interest within the resuscitation community and the amount of new evidence available since any previous review. Systematic reviews addressed higher-priority topics, and included double-sequential defibrillation, intravenous versus intraosseous route for drug administration during cardiac arrest, point-of-care echocardiography for intra-arrest prognostication, cardiac arrest caused by pulmonary embolism, postresuscitation oxygenation and ventilation, prophylactic antibiotics after resuscitation, postresuscitation seizure prophylaxis and treatment, and neuroprognostication. New or updated treatment recommendations on these topics are presented. Scoping reviews were conducted for anticipatory charging and monitoring of physiological parameters during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Topics for which systematic reviews and new Consensuses on Science With Treatment Recommendations were completed since 2015 are also summarized here. All remaining topics reviewed were addressed with evidence updates to identify any new evidence and to help determine which topics should be the highest priority for systematic reviews in the next 1 to 2 years.

Anxiety sensitivity, or fear of anxious arousal, is cross-sectionally associated with a wide array of adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae, including symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, pain, and somatization. The current study utilizes a large-scale, multi-site, prospective study of trauma survivors presenting to emergency departments. Hypotheses tested whether elevated anxiety sensitivity in the immediate posttrauma period is associated with more severe and persistent trajectories of common adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae in the eight weeks posttrauma. Participants from the AURORA study (n = 2,269 recruited from 23 emergency departments) completed self-report assessments over eight weeks posttrauma. Associations between heightened anxiety sensitivity and more severe and/or persistent trajectories of trauma-related symptoms identified by growth mixture modeling were analyzed. Anxiety sensitivity assessed two weeks posttrauma was associated with severe and/or persistent posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, pain, and somatic symptoms in the eight weeks posttrauma. Effect sizes were in the small to medium range in multivariate models accounting for various demographic, trauma-related, pre-trauma mental health-related, and personality-related factors. Anxiety sensitivity may be a useful transdiagnostic risk factor in the immediate posttraumatic period identifying individuals at risk for the development of adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequelae. Further, considering anxiety sensitivity is malleable via brief intervention, it could be a useful secondary prevention target. Future research should continue to evaluate associations between anxiety sensitivity and trauma-related pathology.

Objective Whether short-term, low-potency opioid prescriptions for acute pain lead to future at-risk opioid use remains controversial and inadequately characterized. Our objective was to measure the association between emergency department (ED) opioid analgesic exposure after a physical, trauma-related event and subsequent opioid use. We hypothesized ED opioid analgesic exposure is associated with subsequent at-risk opioid use. Methods Participants were enrolled in AURORA, a prospective cohort study of adult patients in 29 U.S., urban EDs receiving care for a traumatic event. Exclusion criteria were hospital admission, persons reporting any non-medical opioid use (e.g., opioids without prescription or taking more than prescribed for euphoria) in the 30 days before enrollment, and missing or incomplete data regarding opioid exposure or pain. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the relationship between ED opioid exposure and at-risk opioid use, defined as any self-reported non-medical opioid use after initial ED encounter or prescription opioid use at 3-months. Results Of 1441 subjects completing 3-month follow-up, 872 participants were included for analysis. At-risk opioid use occurred within 3 months in 33/620 (5.3%, CI: 3.7,7.4) participants without ED opioid analgesic exposure; 4/16 (25.0%, CI: 8.3, 52.6) with ED opioid prescription only; 17/146 (11.6%, CI: 7.1, 18.3) with ED opioid administration only; 12/90 (13.3%, CI: 7.4, 22.5) with both. Controlling for clinical factors, adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for at-risk opioid use after ED opioid exposure were: ED prescription only: 4.9 (95% CI 1.4, 17.4); ED administration for analgesia only: 2.0 (CI 1.0, 3.8); both: 2.8 (CI 1.2, 6.5). Conclusions ED opioids were associated with subsequent at-risk opioid use within three months in a geographically diverse cohort of adult trauma patients. This supports need for prospective studies focused on the long-term consequences of ED opioid analgesic exposure to estimate individual risk and guide therapeutic decision-making.

Background End Tidal CO2 (ETCO2) is a reasonable predictor of Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) in cardiac arrest (CA), though with many limitations. Cerebral Oximetry (CerOx) non-invasively measures brain O2 saturation and correlates with flow. Objectives This study compares ETCO2 and CerOx for ROSC prediction during both out of hospital (OHCA) and emergency department cardiac arrests (EDCA). Methods We conducted a prospective study on CA patients resuscitated in the ED. ETCO2 and CerOx simultaneously measured during ED CPR. Data was analyzed with logistic regression modeling and area under the curve (AUC). Results 176 patients were analyzed, 66.7% were witnessed, 52.8% had bystander CPR. EMS alert to ED arrival was 27.0 ± 10.6 min. Initial rhythm was 31.8% asystole, 27.8% PEA, 25.6% VF/VT with 26.1% achieving ROSC. AUC predictors of ROSC were: last 5 min trend [CerOx = 0.82 ; ETCO2 = 0.74], delta first to last [CerOx = 0.86 ; ETCO2 = 0.73], the penultimate minute [CerOx = 0.81 ; ETCO2 = 0.76], and final minute [CerOx = 0.89 ; ETCO2 = 0.77]. AUC comparison of simultaneous measurements (n = 125) revealed: last 5 min trend [CerOx = 0.80 ; ETCO2 = 0.79], delta first to last [CerOx = 0.83 ; ETCO2 = 0.75], penultimate minute [CerOx = 0.83 ETCO2 = 0.74], and final minute [CerOx = 0.89 ; ETCO2 = 0.75]. Conclusions Our data shows, both ETCO2 and rSO2 are good predictors of ROSC. We found CerOx superior to ETCO2 in predicting ROSC.

Importance A substantial proportion of the 40 million people in the US who present to emergency departments (EDs) each year after traumatic events develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or major depressive episode (MDE). Accurately identifying patients at high risk in the ED would facilitate the targeting of preventive interventions. Objectives To develop and validate a prediction tool based on ED reports after a motor vehicle collision to predict PTSD or MDE 3 months later. Design, Setting, and Participants The Advancing Understanding of Recovery After Trauma (AURORA) study is a longitudinal study that examined adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric sequalae among patients who presented to 28 US urban EDs in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic experience. Enrollment began on September 25, 2017. The 1003 patients considered in this diagnostic/prognostic report completed 3-month assessments by January 31, 2020. Each patient received a baseline ED assessment along with follow-up self-report surveys 2 weeks, 8 weeks, and 3 months later. An ensemble machine learning method was used to predict 3-month PTSD or MDE from baseline information. Data analysis was performed from November 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures The PTSD Checklist forDSM-5was used to assess PTSD and the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Depression Short-Form 8b to assess MDE. Results A total of 1003 patients (median [interquartile range] age, 34.5 [24-43] years; 715 [weighted 67.9%] female; 100 [weighted 10.7%] Hispanic, 537 [weighted 52.7%] non-Hispanic Black, 324 [weighted 32.2%] non-Hispanic White, and 42 [weighted 4.4%] of non-Hispanic other race or ethnicity were included in this study. A total of 274 patients (weighted 26.6%) met criteria for 3-month PTSD or MDE. An ensemble machine learning model restricted to 30 predictors estimated in a training sample (patients from the Northeast or Midwest) had good prediction accuracy (mean [SE] area under the curve [AUC], 0.815 [0.031]) and calibration (mean [SE] integrated calibration index, 0.040 [0.002]; mean [SE] expected calibration error, 0.039 [0.002]) in an independent test sample (patients from the South). Patients in the top 30% of predicted risk accounted for 65% of all 3-month PTSD or MDE, with a mean (SE) positive predictive value of 58.2% (6.4%) among these patients at high risk. The model had good consistency across regions of the country in terms of both AUC (mean [SE], 0.789 [0.025] using the Northeast as the test sample and 0.809 [0.023] using the Midwest as the test sample) and calibration (mean [SE] integrated calibration index, 0.048 [0.003] using the Northeast as the test sample and 0.024 [0.001] using the Midwest as the test sample; mean [SE] expected calibration error, 0.034 [0.003] using the Northeast as the test sample and 0.025 [0.001] using the Midwest as the test sample). The most important predictors in terms of Shapley Additive Explanations values were symptoms of anxiety sensitivity and depressive disposition, psychological distress in the 30 days before motor vehicle collision, and peritraumatic psychosomatic symptoms. Conclusions and Relevance The results of this study suggest that a short set of questions feasible to administer in an ED can predict 3-month PTSD or MDE with good AUC, calibration, and geographic consistency. Patients at high risk can be identified in the ED for targeting if cost-effective preventive interventions are developed.

All academic medical specialties have the obligation to continuously create new knowledge that will improve patient care and outcomes. Emergency medicine (EM) is no exception. Since its origins over 50 years ago, EM has struggled to fulfill its research mission. EM ranks last among clinical specialties in the percentage of medical school faculty who are National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded principal investigators (PIs; 1.7%) and the percentage of medical school departments with NIH-funded PIs (33%). Although there has been a steady increase in the number of NIH-funded projects and total NIH dollars, the slowing growth in the number of NIH-funded PIs and lack of growth in the number of EM departments with NIH-funded PIs is cause for concern. In response, the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine (AACEM) Research Task Force proposes a set of 2030 strategic goals for the EM research enterprise that are based on sustaining historic growth rates in NIH funding. These goals have been endorsed by the AACEM Executive Committee and the boards of Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM). The 2030 strategic goals include 200 NIH-funded projects led by 150 EM PIs in at least 50 EM departments with over $100M in annual funding resulting in over 3% of EM faculty being NIH-funded PIs. Achieving these goals will require a targeted series of focused strategies to increase the number of EM faculty who are competitive for NIH funding. This requires a coordinated, intentional effort with investments at the national, departmental, and individual levels. These efforts are ideally led by medical school department chairs, who can create the culture and provide the resources needed to be successful. The specialty of EM has the obligation to improve the health of the public and to fulfill its research mission.

Background Cross-sectional studies have found that individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit deficits in autonomic functioning. While PTSD rates are twice as high in women compared to men, sex differences in autonomic functioning are relatively unknown among trauma-exposed populations. The current study used a prospective design to examine sex differences in posttraumatic autonomic functioning. Methods 192 participants were recruited from emergency departments following trauma exposure (Mean age = 35.88, 68.2% female). Skin conductance was measured in the emergency department; fear conditioning was completed two weeks later and included measures of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV). PTSD symptoms were assessed 8 weeks after trauma. Results 2-week systolic BP was significantly higher in men, while 2-week HR was significantly higher in women, and a sex by PTSD interaction suggested that women who developed PTSD demonstrated the highest HR levels. Two-week HF-HRV was significantly lower in women, and a sex by PTSD interaction suggested that women with PTSD demonstrated the lowest HF-HRV levels. Skin conductance response in the emergency department was associated with 2-week HR and HF-HRV only among women who developed PTSD. Conclusions Our results indicate that there are notable sex differences in autonomic functioning among trauma-exposed individuals. Differences in sympathetic biomarkers (BP and HR) may have implications for cardiovascular disease risk given that sympathetic arousal is a mechanism implicated in this risk among PTSD populations. Future research examining differential pathways between PTSD and cardiovascular risk among men versus women is warranted.

Hippo campal impairments are reliably associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, little research has characterized how increased threat sensitivity may interact with arousal responses to alter hippocampal reactivity, and further how these interactions relate to the sequelae of trauma-related symptoms. In a sample of individuals recently exposed to trauma (N = 116, 76 female), we found that PTSD symptoms at 2 weeks were associated with decreased hippocampal responses to threat as assessed with fMRI. Further, the relationship between hippocampal threat sensitivity and PTSD symptomology only emerged in individuals who showed transient, high threat-related arousal, as assayed by an independently collected measure of fear potentiated startle. Collectively, our finding suggests that development of PTSD is associated with threat-related decreases in hippocampal function because of increases in fear-potentiated arousal. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Alterations in hippocampal function linked to threat-related arousal are reliably associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, how these alterations relate to the sequelae of trauma-related symptoms is unknown. Prior models based on nontrauma samples suggest that arousal may impact hippocampal neurophysiology leading to maladaptive behavior. Here we show that decreased hippocampal threat sensitivity interacts with fear-potentiated startle to predict PTSD symptoms. Specifically, individuals with high fear-potentiated startle and low, transient hippocampal threat sensitivity showed the greatest PTSD symptomology. These findings bridge literatures of threat-related arousal and hippocampal function to better understand PTSD risk.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with lower gray matter volume (GMV) in brain regions critical for extinction of learned threat. However, relationships among volume, extinction learning, and PTSD symptom development remain unclear. We investigated subcortical brain volumes in regions supporting extinction learning and fear-potentiated startle (FPS) to understand brain-behavior interactions that may impact PTSD symptom development in recently traumatized individuals. Participants (N = 99) completed magnetic resonance imaging and threat conditioning two weeks following trauma exposure as part of a multisite observational study to understand the neuropsychiatric effects of trauma (AURORA Study). Participants completed self-assessments of PTSD (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5; PCL-5), dissociation, and depression symptoms two- and eight-weeks post-trauma. We completed multiple regressions to investigate relationships between FPS during late extinction, GMV, and PTSD symptom development. The interaction between thalamic GMV and FPS during late extinction at two weeks post-trauma predicted PCL-5 scores eight weeks (t (75) = 2.49, β = 0.28, p = 0.015) post-trauma. Higher FPS predicted higher PCL-5 scores in the setting of increased thalamic GMV. Meanwhile, lower FPS also predicted higher PCL-5 scores in the setting of decreased thalamic GMV. Thalamic GMV and FPS interactions also predicted posttraumatic dissociative and depressive symptoms. Amygdala and hippocampus GMV by FPS interactions were not associated with posttraumatic symptom development. Taken together, thalamic GMV and FPS during late extinction interact to contribute to adverse posttraumatic neuropsychiatric outcomes. Multimodal assessments soon after trauma have the potential to distinguish key phenotypes vulnerable to posttraumatic neuropsychiatric outcomes.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition resulting from threatening or horrifying events. We hypothesized that circadian rhythm changes, measured by a wrist-worn research watch are predictive of post-trauma outcomes. Approach: 1618 post-trauma patients were enrolled after admission to emergency departments (ED). Three standardized questionnaires were administered at week eight to measure post-trauma outcomes related to PTSD, sleep disturbance, and pain interference with daily life. Pulse activity and movement data were captured from a research watch for eight weeks. Standard and novel movement and cardiovascular metrics that reflect circadian rhythms were derived using this data. These features were used to train different classifiers to predict the three outcomes derived from week-eight surveys. Clinical surveys administered at ED were also used as features in the baseline models. Results: The highest cross-validated performance of research watch-based features was achieved for classifying participants with pain interference by a logistic regression model, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.70. The ED survey-based model achieved an AUC of 0.77, and the fusion of research watch and ED survey metrics improved the AUC to 0.79. Significance: This work represents the first attempt to predict and classify post-trauma symptoms from passive wearable data using machine learning approaches that leverage the circadian desynchrony in a potential PTSD population.

Background: Left heart catheterization (LHC) and TTM are proven beneficial after OHCA. Detroit CARES data found a strong, though insignificant, trend for LHC rate and survival (p = 0.1). In 2018, the rate of patients with LHC and good CPC nearly doubled, despite an overall decrease in LHC rate. Therefore, we hypothesize LHC is performed later (after second day of hospitalization) nationwide and a good CPC is likely associated with selection of patients expected to survive. Methods: We analyzed the national CARES registry (2013 - 2018) to investigate whether delayed LHC after OHCA was occurring nationally. Included were patients 18 or older, non-skilled care facility patients and surviving to admission. The primary outcome was the CPC dichotomized into good (1 or 2) and poor (3 - 5). A propensity score was derived to predict early LHC that incorporated factors associated with LHC and outcome. A multi-level logistic regression analyses was fit using inverse weighted propensity scores. The primary predictor of interest was early LHC relative to no or late LHC. Also examined were TTM, year of cardiac arrest, and other predictors. Results reported are odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: 62,195 individual cases were identified; the median age was 61, (IQR-16), 62% male, 32% unwitnessed, 37% bystander CPR, and 35% initial shockable rhythm. 29% had good outcome and 22% received early LHC, 6% late LHC and 72% no LHC. 13% of patients receiving early LHC and 23% with no or late LHC had a good outcome. OR and 95% CI for good outcome were: 2.4 (2.2-2.7) for early LHC, 3.6 (3.3-3.8) for shockable rhythm, 1.9 (1.7-2.0) for public location and 2.0 (1.8-2.2) for witnessed arrest. Over the five-year period, no change in the total LHC occurred and a slight decrease in early LHC, (25%-23%), (Fig 1). Conclusion: Early LHC was associated with good outcome (CPC) at hospital discharge. The overall LHC rate is unchanged from 2013-18 with a slight decrease in early LHC.

Introduction: March 10 th , 2020 marked the first positive case of SARS-CoV-2 in Detroit. EMS protocol changes were implemented by March 25 th , 2020 in response to the virus. These modifications restricted intubation and allowed medical control to terminate resuscitation in cases of suspected COVID-19 after 10 minutes of CPR without ROSC. Due to global changes in pre-hospital cardiac arrest care caused by COVID-19, we conducted an analysis to determine OHCA characteristics of patients and fatality rates in the COVID-19 era. Methods: CARES data was analyzed between March 10 th , 2019 - April 30 th , 2019 and March 10 th , 2020 - April 30 th, 2020 for comparison before and during the pandemic. Patient demographics, location of arrest, initial rhythms, bystander CPR, EMS interventions and field termination were compared between the two time points. No major factors occurred in 2019 that would potentially skew that data. Descriptive statistics were utilized. Results: A total of 475 CARES patients were included during the study period. Total arrests surged in the COVID-19 era from 180 to 295. OHCA for individuals greater than 50 increased from 130 to 243. An initial rhythm of PEA tripled (10 to 30) during COVID-19, possibly due to hypoxia. The percentage of patients with a shockable rhythm declined (7.8 to 5.1). Bystander CPR decreased from 28.9% (52) to 18.3% (54), secondary to an increase of arrests being in non-public places and concern about disease transmission. Nursing home cardiac arrests increased during COVID from 19 to 73, from the previous year. Placement of an endotracheal tube or supraglottic airway by a basic or advanced unit decreased from 68.3% (123) in pre-COVID-19 era to 37.0% (109) in the current state of the pandemic. Termination of resuscitation in the field occurred over 3-fold from the previous year, an absolute increase from 64 to 204. Conclusion: There was a 61% increase in cardiac arrests during COVID-19 in Detroit. The pandemic and subsequent protocol changes greatly altered practice. COVID-19 has likely directly and indirectly, due to fear of going to the hospital, affected the number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Additional review is being conducted to further delineate arrest etiologies.

This 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations for advanced life support includes updates on multiple advanced life support topics addressed with 3 different types of reviews. Topics were prioritized on the basis of both recent interest within the resuscitation community and the amount of new evidence available since any previous review. Systematic reviews addressed higher-priority topics, and included double-sequential defibrillation, intravenous versus intraosseous route for drug administration during cardiac arrest, point-of-care echocardiography for intra-arrest prognostication, cardiac arrest caused by pulmonary embolism, postresuscitation oxygenation and ventilation, prophylactic antibiotics after resuscitation, postresuscitation seizure prophylaxis and treatment, and neuroprognostication. New or updated treatment recommendations on these topics are presented. Scoping reviews were conducted for anticipatory charging and monitoring of physiological parameters during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Topics for which systematic reviews and new Consensuses on Science With Treatment Recommendations were completed since 2015 are also summarized here. All remaining topics reviewed were addressed with evidence updates to identify any new evidence and to help determine which topics should be the highest priority for systematic reviews in the next 1 to 2 years.

Targeted temperature management (TTM) is recommended postcardiac arrest. The cooling method with the highest safety and efficacy is unknown. The COOL-ARREST pilot trial aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the most contemporary ZOLL Thermogard XP Intravascular Temperature Management (IVTM) system for providing mild TTM postcardiac arrest. This multicenter, prospective, single-arm, observational pilot trial enrolled patients at eight U.S. hospitals between July 28, 2014, and July 24, 2015. Adult (≥18 years old), out-of-hospital cardiac arrest subjects of presumed cardiac etiology who achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were considered for inclusion. Patients were excluded if (1) awake or consistently following commands after ROSC, (2) significant prearrest neurological dysfunction, (3) terminal illness or advanced directives precluding aggressive care, and (4) severe hemodynamic instability or shock. Patient temperature was maintained at 33.0°C ± 0.3°C for a total of 24 hours followed by controlled rewarming (0.1-0.2°C/h). Logistic regressions were used to assess association of good functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale ≤3) measured at the time of hospital discharge with shockable rhythm (yes/no), age, gender, race/ethnicity, lay-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, time to basic life support (minutes), time to ROSC (minutes), lactate (mg/dL), and pH on admission. The ZOLL IVTM system was effective at inducing TTM (median time to target temperature from initiation, 89 minutes [interquartile range 42-155]). Adverse events most often included electrolyte abnormalities and dysrhythmias. Of patients surviving to hospital discharge, 16/20 patients had a good functional outcome. A total of 18 patients survived through 90-day follow-up, at which time 94% (17/18) of patients had good functional outcome. The COOL-ARREST pilot trial demonstrates high safety and efficacy of the ZOLL Thermogard XP IVTM system in the application of mild TTM postcardiac arrest. This observational trial also revealed noteworthy variability in the management of postcardiac arrest patients, particularly with the use of early withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy.

Previous studies have shown that common variants of the gene coding for FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP5), a critical regulator of glucocorticoid sensitivity, affect vulnerability to stress-related disorders. In a previous report,FKBP5rs1360780 was identified as a functional variant because of its effect on gene methylation. Here we report evidence for a novel functionalFKBP5allele, rs3800373. This study assessed the association between rs3800373 and post-traumatic chronic pain in 1607 women and men from two ethnically diverse human cohorts. The molecular mechanism through which rs3800373 affects adverse outcomes was established viain silico,in vivo, andin vitroanalyses. The rs3800373 minor allele predicted worse adverse outcomes after trauma exposure, such that individuals with the minor (risk) allele developed more severe post-traumatic chronic musculoskeletal pain. Among these individuals, peritraumatic circulatingFKBP5expression levels increased as cortisol and glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1) mRNA levels increased, consistent with increased glucocorticoid resistance. Bioinformatic,in vitro, and mutational analyses indicate that the rs3800373 minor allele reduces the binding of a stress- and pain-associated microRNA, miR-320a, toFKBP5via altering theFKBP5mRNA 3′UTR secondary structure (i.e., is a riboSNitch). This results in relatively greaterFKBP5translation, unchecked by miR-320a. Overall, these results identify an important gene–miRNA interaction influencing chronic pain risk in vulnerable individuals and suggest that exogenous methods to achieve targeted reduction in poststressFKBP5mRNA expression may constitute useful therapeutic strategies.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTFKBP5is a critical regulator of the stress response. Previous studies have shown that dysregulation of the expression of this gene plays a role in the pathogenesis of chronic pain development as well as a number of comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders. In the current study, we identified a functional allele (rs3800373) in the 3′UTR ofFKBP5that influences vulnerability to chronic post-traumatic pain in two ethnic cohorts. Using multiple complementary experimental approaches, we show that theFKBP5rs3800373 minor allele alters the secondary structure ofFKBP5mRNA, decreasing the binding of a stress- and pain-associated microRNA, miR-320a. This results in relatively greaterFKBP5translation, unchecked by miR-320a, increasing glucocorticoid resistance and increasing vulnerability to post-traumatic pain.

Objective: Our objective was to analyze and compare out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) system of care performance and outcomes at the Medical Control Authority (MCA) level in the state of Michigan. We hypothesized that clinically and statistically significant variations in treatment and outcomes of OHCA exists within a single U.S. state. Methods: We performed a retrospective, observational study of all non-traumatic EMS-treated OHCA from the state of Michigan CARES registry for 2014–2015. Geocoding of the OHCA incident address was used to assign records to individual MCAs. MCA-based demographics, arrest characteristics, system of care performance and outcomes were quantified and compared. Associations between demographics, system of care parameters, and outcomes were examined at the MCA level. Results: A total of 8,115 records with complete data were available for analysis. Eleven MCAs met study inclusion criteria of >100 cases, producing a final sample size of 7,788 records (96%). Statistically significant variations in survival to hospital discharge ranged from 4.5% to 15% (p < 0.001) (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] range 0.6–2.0) and survival with good neurologic outcome 2.7–12.5% (p < 0.001; AOR range 0.5–2.2,) were observed across MCAs. Bystander CPR ranged from 32% to 53% (p < 0.001) and bystander AED application ranged from 3.5% 11.5% (p < 0.05). Of patients admitted to the hospital alive, 29–68% received targeted temperature management. In hospital mortality ranged from 53.1% to 73.9% (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Significant intrastate variability in OHCA system of care performance and outcomes currently exist and are similar to what has been previously reported across North America almost a decade ago. This degree of variability highlights the opportunity to optimize modifiable factors within local systems of care to improve OHCA outcomes.

African Americans experience a greater burden of acute pain than non-Hispanic white individuals across of variety of acute medical conditions, but it is unknown whether this is the case after trauma. We evaluated pain, pain-related characteristics (eg, peritraumatic distress), and analgesic treatment in 2 cohorts of individuals (African American [n = 931] and non-Hispanic white [n = 948]) presenting to the emergency department (ED) after a motor vehicle collision. We performed a propensity-matched analysis (n = 796 in each group) to assess racial differences in acute pain in the ED. In multivariable models conducted within the matched sample, race was associated with moderate to severe axial pain (odds ratio [OR] 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1-5.0, P < 0.001) and higher average numerical rating scale scores (1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.6; P < 0.001). After adjustment for pain and other covariates, non-Hispanic white patients were more likely to receive an opioid analgesic in the ED (OR 2.0; 95% CI: 1.4-3.0, P < 0.001) or at discharge (OR 4.9; 95% CI: 3.4-7.1, P < 0.001) and also less likely to receive an NSAID in the ED (OR 0.54; 95% CI: 0.38-0.78; P = 0.001) or at discharge (0.31; 95% CI: 0.43-0.84). Racial differences in the severity of acute posttraumatic pain after a motor vehicle collision are not explained by factors such as socioeconomic status or crash characteristics. Despite a higher burden of acute pain, African Americans were less likely to receive opioid analgesics and more likely to receive NSAIDs. Further work is needed to understand the relationship between pain severity, disparities in analgesic treatment, and longer term outcomes, such as post-motor vehicle collision chronic pain.

Aims To identify whether any level of end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) measured during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) correlates with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or survival in adults experiencing cardiac arrest in any setting. Methods Systematic review. We included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case-control studies of adult cardiac arrest in any setting that reported specific (rather than pooled) ETCO2 values and attempted to correlate those values with prognosis. Full-text articles were searched on EmBASE, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Database. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines were followed, assigning levels of quality to all evidence used in the meta-analysis. Results Seventeen observational studies, describing a total of 6198 patients, were included in the qualitative synthesis, and five studies were included in the meta-analysis. The available studies provided consistent but low-quality evidence that ETCO2 measurements ≥10 mmHg, obtained at various time points during CPR, are substantially related to ROSC. Additional cut-off values were also found. Initial ETCO2 or 20-min ETCO2 > 20 mmHg appears to be a better predictor of ROSC than the 10 mmHg cut off value. A ETCO2 Conclusions Based upon existing evidence, ETCO2 levels do seem to provide limited prognostic information for patients who have experienced cardiac arrest. Given the many potential confounders that can influence initial ETCO2 levels, extreme or trending values may be more useful than static mid-range levels. Additional well-designed studies are needed to define optimal timing for the measurement of ETCO2 for prognostic purposes.

Background Both the elderly and individuals with comorbidities are at increased risk of developing influenza-related complications. Novel influenza antivirals are required, given limitations of current drugs (eg, resistance emergence and poor efficacy). Pimodivir is a first-in-class antiviral for influenza A under development for these patients. Methods Hospitalized patients with influenza A infection were randomized 2:1 to receive pimodivir 600 mg plus oseltamivir 75 mg or placebo plus oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily for 7 days in this phase 2b study. The primary objective was to compare pimodivir pharmacokinetics in elderly (aged 65–85 years) versus nonelderly adults (aged 18–64 years). Secondary end points included time to patient-reported symptom resolution. Results Pimodivir pharmacokinetic parameters in nonelderly and elderly patients were similar. Time to influenza symptom resolution was numerically shorter with pimodivir (72.45 hours) than placebo (94.15 hours). There was a lower incidence of influenza-related complications in the pimodivir group (7.9%) versus placebo group (15.6%). Treatment was generally well tolerated. Conclusions No apparent relationship was observed between pimodivir pharmacokinetics and age. Our data demonstrate the need for a larger study of pimodivir in addition to oseltamivir to test whether it results in a clinically significant decrease in time-to-influenza-symptom alleviation and/or the frequency of influenza complications. Clinical trials registration NCT02532283.

Introduction: Survival with good neurologic outcome following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) requires intensive post-ROSC care. In response to a recent decline in OHCA survival rates in Detroit, we conducted an analysis to identify factors contributing to this regression. Methods: CARES data from Detroit EMS transports were analyzed, including adult non-traumatic OHCA patients treated from 2014-2018 at four hospitals. Patient demographics, conditions of the arrest, and post-ROSC interventions including left heart catheterization, (LHC) and targeted temperature management, (TTM), were correlated to survival to hospital discharge and discharge with CPC 1 or 2. We calculated crude and adjusted survival rates across sites. Survival rates were adjusted for Utstein criteria using multilevel multi-variable regression analyses. Results: A total of 5,175 CARES patients were included. There was no difference in Utstein criteria between years, other than a small increase in the rate of witnessed arrest. We noted a steady decrease in LHC, and steady increase in TTM rate over the 5 years. There was a system-wide decrease in survival to hospital discharge during 2018, though the percentage of patients discharged with CPC 1 or 2 was similar. We found a strong, though insignificant, trend for LHC rate and survival: 0.72 (p = 0.1057), R 2 : 0.88, Adjusted R 2 : 0.76; and for survival with CPC 1 or 2: 0.59 (p = 0.5172), R 2 : 0.72, Adjusted R 2 : 0.44. In 2018, the rate of patients with LHC and good CPC nearly doubled. Conclusion: During the study period, we found a steady increase in TTM rate and concomitant decrease in LHC rate. The rate of LHC correlated best with survival to hospital discharge. In 2018, an increase in the proportion of patients with CPC 1 or 2 receiving LHC occurred, despite a decline in the overall rate of LHC.

Introduction: EMS system factors key to improved survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have not been well elucidated. This study explores factors associated with sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in the field with pulse upon arrival to the ED-a measure of high quality of prehospital care-across the chain of survival. Methods: This sequential mixed methods study used data from the Michigan Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (MI-CARES) to evaluate variation in OHCA outcomes across EMS agencies. Sites were sampled based on geography, rurality, population density, and survival rate. We visited 1 low-, 1 middle-, and 3 high-survival EMS systems. At each site, we conducted key informant interviews with field staff, mid-level managers, and leadership from EMS, police, fire, and dispatch, as well as multidisciplinary focus groups. Transcripts were coded using a structured codebook and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: An integrated multidisciplinary approach was critical for timely OHCA care coordination across the chain of survival. Themes that emerged across all stakeholders included: 1) OHCA education and multidisciplinary training; 2) shared awareness of roles in the chain of survival and system-wide response; 4) multidisciplinary QI; and 5) leadership and initiative (Table 1). Conclusions: Recognizing the critical role of each level in the chain of survival, this study identified specific practices from EMS system stakeholders that were associated with improved survival. The next phase of this work will include validating the factors associated with increased survival identified through a statewide survey of EMS agencies in Michigan. The final product of this work will include a toolkit of best practices and an implementation guide.

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to cardiac arrest induced brain injury and has been a target for neuroprotective therapies. An emerging concept suggests that hyperactivation of neuronal mitochondria following resuscitation results in hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane during reperfusion, which drives generation of excess reactive oxygen species. Previous studies from our group demonstrated that limiting mitochondrial hyperactivity by non-invasively modulating mitochondrial function with specific near infrared light (NIR) wavelengths can reduce brain injury in small animal models of global and focal ischemia. Hypothesis: Inhibitory wavelengths of NIR will reduce neuronal injury and improve neurocognitive outcome in a clinically relevant swine model of cardiac arrest. Methods: Twenty-eight male and female adult swine were enrolled (3 groups: Sham, CA/CPR, and CA/CPR + NIR). Cardiac arrest (8 minutes) was induced with a ventricular pacing wire and followed by manual CPR with defibrillation and epinephrine every 30 seconds until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), 2 of the 20 swine that underwent CA did not achieve ROSC and were not enrolled. Treatment groups were randomized prior to arrest and blinded to the CPR team. Treatment was applied at onset of ROSC by irradiating the scalp with 750 nm and 950 nm LEDs (5W) for 2 hours. Results: Sham-operated animals all survived (8/8), whereas 22% of untreated animals subjected to cardiac arrest died within 45 min of ROSC (CA/CPR, n= 7/9). All swine treated with NIR survived the duration of the study (CA/CPR + NIR, n=9/9). Four days following cardiac arrest, neurological deficit score was improved in the NIR treatment group (50 ± 21 CA/CPR vs. 0.8 ± 0.8 CA/CPR + NIR, p < 0.05). Additionally, neuronal death in the CA1/CA3 regions of the hippocampus, assessed by counting surviving neurons with stereology, was attenuated by treatment with NIR (17917 ± 5534 neurons/mm 3 CA/CPR vs. 44655 ± 5637 neurons/mm 3 CA/CPR + NIR, p < 0.05). All data is reported as mean ± SEM. Conclusions: These data provide evidence that noninvasive modulation of mitochondria, achieved by transcranial irradiation of the brain with NIR, mitigates post-cardiac arrest brain injury.

The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation has initiated a continuous review of new, peer-reviewed, published cardiopulmonary resuscitation science. This is the third annual summary of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations. It addresses the most recent published resuscitation evidence reviewed by International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation Task Force science experts. This summary addresses the role of cardiac arrest centers and dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the role of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults and children, vasopressors in adults, advanced airway interventions in adults and children, targeted temperature management in children after cardiac arrest, initial oxygen concentration during resuscitation of newborns, and interventions for presyncope by first aid providers. Members from 6 International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation task forces have assessed, discussed, and debated the certainty of the evidence on the basis of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, and their statements include consensus treatment recommendations. Insights into the deliberations of the task forces are provided in the Justification and Evidence to Decision Framework Highlights sections. The task forces also listed priority knowledge gaps for further research.