Prehospital traumatic cardiac arrest is both rare and uniquely complex, often pushing even the most experienced providers and resuscitation teams to their limits. Further complicating care is the absence of universally accepted consensus guidelines for swiftly identifying, assessing, and addressing life-threatening injuries while simultaneously performing resuscitation. How do we reconcile streamlined, high-priority algorithms with more nuanced, critical-thinking approaches?

This session explores the latest research and evolving guidelines from major organizations—such as the National Association of EMS Physicians, the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, the American Heart Association, and international trauma and resuscitation societies—to help clinicians make rapid, well-informed decisions. Attendees will come away with clear strategies for maximizing patient outcomes by effectively balancing practical protocols and detailed clinical reasoning.

Learning Objectives

1. Compare and contrast the core priorities for traumatic cardiac arrest resuscitation as recommended by major global stakeholder groups.

2. Evaluate which resuscitation tools and interventions provide the greatest benefit, given varying levels of trauma system resources.

3. Discuss how guidelines for non-traumatic cardiac arrest apply—or need to be modified—in the setting of traumatic cardiac arrest.