VCURES Assist American Heart Association and International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation in Developing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Treatment Guidelines

Under the leadership of Senior VCURES fellows Drs. Mary Ann Peberdy and Joseph Ornato, VCURES was enlisted by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) to provide scientific evidence-based reviews on 22 topics related to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiac care (ECC). These topics range from important questions concerning acid-base treatment during cardiac arrest to issues of post-resuscitation care. No institution contributed to more reviews.

VCURES participants in this process include:

Mary Ann Peberdy, MD: Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine

Joseph Ornato, MD: Professor and Chairman Department of Emergency Medicine

Octavio Falcucci MD Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology

Seshendra Chirumamilla , MD : Cardiovascular Anesthesiology Fellow

Rebecca Cain, MD: Cardiovascular Anesthesiology Fellow

Kyle Gunnerson, MD: Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine

Antonio Muniz, MD: Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics

Chris Hogan, MD: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

Douglas Franzen, MD: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

Greg Christiansen, DO: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

Imo Aisiku MD: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Anesthesiology

“These reviews are extraordinarily important in developing state-of-the-art life saving treatments in acute cardiac care. It is gratifying that VCURES could participate at this level” states Dr. Peberdy. Both Drs. Peberdy and Ornato have played important leadership roles in this process for many years. The evidence-based reviews provided by VCURES will be presented at the 2005 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) Conference in Dallas on Jan. 23–30. The conference is hosted by the American Heart Association and will serve to form the expert consensus on treatment guidelines for CPR and ECC.

The American Heart Association's Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) program has led development of the Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, for over 30 years. It is considered the scientific standard for emergency treatment of life-threatening cardiovascular disease and stroke. These recommendations form the basis for the tremendously successful life saving course developed by the American Heart Association called Advanced Cardiac Life Support.  Additional information is available online at www.americanheart.org/cpr .

For more information contact Dr. Mary Anne Peberdy at: Mpeberdy@aol.com