2023 American Heart Association Focused Update on Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support: An Update to the...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology and Emergency Medicine
• Resuscitation Science

Background:

• Cardiac arrest affects up to 700,000 individuals annually in the US.
• Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) measures are critical for improving patient outcomes.
• Evidence-based updates are essential for optimizing resuscitation protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize recent evidence and recommendations for adult advanced cardiovascular life support.
• To provide guidance on medications, temperature management, and advanced interventions.
• To highlight gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion data and explore organ donation potential.

Main Methods:

• Review of the latest published scientific evidence.
• Focused update on key areas of adult ACLS.
• Discussion of current literature limitations and future considerations.

Main Results:

• Provides updated recommendations on medications, temperature management, percutaneous coronary angiography, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and seizure management.
• Identifies a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion data in cardiac arrest research.
• Highlights the potential role of cardiac arrest survivors as organ donors.

Conclusions:

• The 2023 update offers critical guidance for healthcare professionals managing adult cardiac arrest.
• Further research is needed to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in cardiac arrest populations.
• The cardiac arrest population represents a significant resource for organ transplantation.