Singapore Post-cardiac Arrest Care Guidelines 2026

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Critical Care
• Public Health

Background:

• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest remains a significant public health issue in Singapore, with survival to hospital discharge and neurological recovery needing improvement.
• While prehospital care has advanced, strengthening post-cardiac arrest care is essential for optimizing patient outcomes.
• This review addresses the critical need to enhance the sixth link of the chain of survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated summary of post-cardiac arrest management strategies.
• To offer practical guidance for clinicians managing cardiac arrest survivors in the intensive care unit.
• To build upon previous national recommendations for post-cardiac arrest care.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of current evidence on post-cardiac arrest care.
• Building upon recommendations from the National Targeted Temperature Management Workgroup (2017) and the National Post-Cardiac Arrest and Survivorship Workgroup (2021).
• Focus on optimizing care for patients admitted to the intensive care unit post-return of spontaneous circulation.

Main Results:

• Identifies key areas for improvement in post-cardiac arrest care beyond initial resuscitation.
• Highlights the importance of comprehensive management in the intensive care unit setting.
• Emphasizes the need for continued progress in survival to hospital discharge and neurological recovery.

Conclusions:

• Strengthening post-cardiac arrest care is vital for improving survival and neurological outcomes.
• Updated clinical guidance is necessary for effective management of cardiac arrest patients in the ICU.
• Continued focus on all links of the chain of survival, particularly post-arrest care, is required.