Major Trials
Resuscitation
Intra-Arrest Management
Intra-Arrest Drug Therapy
Combination Therapy
- Andersen. Effect of Vasopressin and Methylprednisolone vs Placebo on Return of Spontaneous Circulation in Patients With In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2021;epublished September 29th
- Mentzelopoulos. Vasopressin, Steroids, and Epinephrine and Neurologically Favorable Survival After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2013;310(3):270
- Mentzelopoulos. Vasopressin, epinephrine, and corticosteroids for in-hospital cardiac arrest. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:15–24
- Olasveengen. Intravenous Drug Administration During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Randomized Trial. JAMA 2009;302(20):2222-2229
Adrenaline
- Perkins. A Randomized Trial of Epinephrine in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (PARAMEDIC2). N Engl J Med 2018;epublished July 18th
- Jacobs. Effect of adrenaline on survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial (PACA Trial). Resuscitation 2011;82(9):1138-43
- Gueugniaud. A comparison of repeated high doses and repeated standard doses of epinephrine for cardiac arrest outside the hospital. European epinephrine study group. N Engl J Med 1998;339(22):1595–601
Vasopressin vs Adrenaline
- Ong. A randomised, double-blind, multi-Centre trial comparing vasopressin and adrenaline in patients with cardiac arrest presenting to or in the emergency department. Resuscitation 2012;83:953–60
- Wenzel. A comparison of vasopressin and epinephrine for out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. N Engl J Med 2004;350:105–13
- Lindner. Randomized comparison of epinephrine and vasopressin in patients with out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Lancet 1997;349:535–7
Amidarone vs Lidocaine
- Kudenchuk. Amiodarone, Lidocaine, or Placebo in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med 2016;epublished April 4th
- Dorian. Amiodarone as compared with lidocaine for shock- resistant ventricular fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2002;346(12):884–90
- Somberg. Intravenous lidocaine versus intravenous amiodarone (in a new aqueous formulation) for incessant ventricular tachycardia. Am J Cardiol. 2002;90(8):853–9
Magnesium
- Hassan. A randomised trial to investigate the efficacy of magnesium sulphate for refractory ventricular fibrillation. Emerg Med J. 2002;19:57–62
- Allegra. Magnesium sulfate in the treatment of refractory ventricular fibrillation in the prehospital setting. Resuscitation. 2001;49:245–9
- Thel. Randomised trial of magnesium in in-hospital cardiac arrest. Duke internal medicine housestaff. Lancet 1997;350:1272–6
- Fatovich. Magnesium in cardiac arrest (the magic trial). Resuscitation. 1997;35:237–41
- Miller. Pilot study of intravenous magnesium sulfate in refractory cardiac arrest: safety data and recommendations for future studies. Resuscitation. 1995;30:3–14
Buffer Therapy
Bretylium
- Olson. A randomized comparison study of bretylium tosylate and lidocaine in resuscitation of patients from out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation in a paramedic system. Ann Emerg Med 1984;13:807–10
- Haynes. Comparison of bretylium tosylate and lidocaine in management of out of hospital ventricular fibrillation: a randomized clinical trial. Am J Cardiol. 1981;48(2):353–6
- Nowak. Bretylium tosylate as initial treatment for cardiopulmonary arrest: randomized comparison with placebo. Ann Emerg Med. 1981;10(8):404–7
Sodium Bicarbonate
Route of Drug Administration
IV vs IO
- Couper. A Randomized Trial of Drug Route in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med 2024;epublished October 31st
- Intraosseous or Intravenous Vascular Access for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med 2024;epublished October 31st
- Ko. Intraosseous versus intravenous vascular access in upper extremity among adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: cluster randomised clinical trial (VICTOR trial). BMJ 2024;386:e079878
Airway Management
Cricoid Pressure
SGA vs ETT
- Wang. Effect of a Strategy of Initial Laryngeal Tube Insertion vs Endotracheal Intubation on 72-Hour Survival in Adults With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2018;320(8):769-778
- Benger. Effect of a Strategy of a Supraglottic Airway Device vs Tracheal Intubation During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest on Functional Outcome. The AIRWAYS-2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2018;320(8):779-791
Chest Compression
Mechanical Devices
- Perkins. Mechanical versus manual chest compression for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (PARAMEDIC): a pragmatic, cluster randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2014;epublished November 16th
- Wik. Manual vs. integrated automatic load-distributing band CPR with equal survival after out of hospital cardiac arrest. The randomized CIRC trial. Resuscitation 2014;epublished March 15th
- Rubertsson. Mechanical Chest Compressions and Simultaneous Defibrillation vs Conventional Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. The LINC Randomized Trial. JAMA 2013;311(1):53-61
Compression Rates
Defibrillation
Defibrillation Strategies
ECPR
ECPR
- Belohlavek. Effect of Intra-arrest Transport, Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and Immediate Invasive Assessment and Treatment on Functional Neurologic Outcome in Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2022;327(8):737-747
- Yannopoulos. Advanced reperfusion strategies for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and refractory ventricular fibrillation (ARREST): a phase 2, single centre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2020;396(10265):1807-1816
Post-Arrest Management
Temperature Management
Temperature Comparisons
- Wolfrum. Temperature Control After In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Circulation 2022;epublished September 28th
- Le May. Effect of Moderate vs Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia on Mortality and Neurologic Outcomes in Comatose Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: The CAPITAL CHILL Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2021;326(15):1494-1503
- Dankiewicz. Hypothermia versus Normothermia after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med 2021;384:2283-2294
- Lascarrou. Targeted Temperature Management for Cardiac Arrest with Nonshockable Rhythm. N Engl J Med N Engl J Med 2019;381:2327-2337
- Nielsen. Targeted Temperature Management at 33°C versus 36°C after Cardiac Arrest (TTM study). N Engl J Med 2013;369:2197-2206
- Kim. Effect of Prehospital Induction of Mild Hypothermia on Survival and Neurological Status Among Adults With Cardiac Arrest: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2014;311(1):45-52
- Bernard. Treatment of Comatose Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest with Induced Hypothermia. N Engl J Med 2002; 346:557-563
- The Hypothermia after Cardiac Arrest Study Group. Mild Therapeutic Hypothermia to Improve the Neurologic Outcome after Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med 2002; 346:549-556
Intra Arrest Cooling
- Belohlavek. Effect of Intra-arrest Transport, Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, and Immediate Invasive Assessment and Treatment on Functional Neurologic Outcome in Refractory Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2022;327(8):737-747
- Nordberg. Effect of trans-nasal evaporative intra-arrest cooling on functional neurologic outcome in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the PRINCESS randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2019;321(17):1677–85
- Bernard. Induction of Therapeutic Hypothermia During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Using a Rapid Infusion of Cold Saline: The RINSE Trial (Rapid Infusion of Cold Normal Saline). Circulation 2016;134(11):797-805
Cooling Method
Duration of Cooling
Paediatrics
Coronary Angiography
Coronary Angiography Post Cardiac Arrest
- Patterson. Expedited transfer to a cardiac arrest centre for non-ST-elevation out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (ARREST): a UK prospective, multicentre, parallel, randomised clinical trial. Lancet 2023;epublished August 27th
- Hauw-Berlemont. Emergency vs Delayed Coronary Angiogram in Survivors of Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Results of the Randomized, Multicentric EMERGE Trial. JAMA Cardiol 2022;7(7):700-707
- Desch. Angiography after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest without ST-Segment Elevation. N Engl J Med 2021;epublished August 29th
- Lemkes. Coronary Angiography after Cardiac Arrest without ST-Segment Elevation (COACT). N Engl J Med 2019;epublished March 18th
Cardiogenic Shock
Post Arrest Miscellaneous Therapy
Hypercapnoea
Oxygenation
- The LOGICAL Investigators and the ANZICS CTG. Connservative Oxygen for Unresponsive Patients after Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med 2026;epublished June 10th
- Bernard. Effect of Lower vs Higher Oxygen Saturation Targets on Survival to Hospital Discharge Among Patients Resuscitated After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. The EXACT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2022;328(18):1818-1826
- Kjaergaard. Blood-Pressure Targets in Comatose Survivors of Cardiac Arrest. N Engl J Med 2022;epublished August 27th
Blood Pressure
last updated August 31st, 2026