The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) has announced that several chapters of the highly anticipated 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines are now open for public comment. This represents a significant opportunity for healthcare professionals, survivors, co-survivors and the public to influence best practices that will impact resuscitation care across Europe and the UK.
As a cardiac arrest survivor and founder of Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK (SCA UK), I am particularly proud to have contributed to two chapters of these guidelines: the Ethics in Resuscitation chapter and the Post-Resuscitation Care chapter, which includes the crucial section on “Long Term Outcome after Cardiac Arrest.”
The Monumental Task of Guideline Development
Developing these guidelines is truly a herculean effort. The process involves systematically reviewing thousands of research papers, evaluating evidence quality, discussing findings with multidisciplinary experts, and reaching consensus on best practices that will save lives across Europe (including the UK).
Being invited to contribute was both an honour and a daunting responsibility. As someone who has personally experienced cardiac arrest and its aftermath, I felt a profound duty to ensure that the survivor’s perspective was adequately represented in these influential documents.
Fellow SCA UK trustee Gareth Cole has also contributed to the guidelines, though his chapter is not yet available for public comment. His expertise will undoubtedly strengthen the final recommendations when published.
The Post-Resuscitation Guidelines: Progress and Gaps
The Post-Resuscitation Care chapter holds particular significance for the cardiac arrest survivor community. Within this chapter, the section on “Long Term Outcome after Cardiac Arrest” (beginning at line 2281) addresses the issues many survivors face after hospital discharge.
What’s Covered in the Long-Term Outcome Section
This section thoroughly examines various aspects of post-cardiac arrest life, including:
- Cognitive challenges affecting memory and executive function
- Fatigue, which affects up to 70% of survivors
- Emotional well-being, including anxiety and depression
- Physical function limitations and mobility issues
- Pain management needs
- Societal participation and return to work challenges
- Impact on family members and close friends
Mixed Feelings About the Evidence Base
While I’m pleased to see the guidelines updated based on the latest evidence, I must admit to feeling somewhat disappointed by the limited progress in certain areas. Professor Kirstie Haywood and Dr. Gisela Lilja have done an excellent job curating this section, but the paucity of new research in post-cardiac arrest rehabilitation is evident.
Much of the substance regarding what would help survivors live fulfilling lives after cardiac arrest remains essentially unchanged from previous editions. This highlights a critical need for more investment in research focused on long-term recovery and rehabilitation after cardiac arrest.
The Critical Role of Public Comments
This public comment period represents a vital opportunity for the cardiac arrest survivor community to ensure our experiences are reflected in these guidelines. Your insights could influence clinical practice across Europe for years to come.
Why Your Input Matters
As survivors, co-survivors, key supporters or healthcare professionals, you have unique perspectives that can strengthen these guidelines. Perhaps you’ve:
- Experienced gaps in post-discharge care that aren’t addressed
- Discovered coping strategies that could benefit others
- Observed particularly helpful rehabilitation approaches
- Identified barriers to returning to work or social activities
These insights are invaluable and may help shape more comprehensive care pathways for future survivors.
The Need for More Research and Investment
I strongly encourage you to comment on the need for increased research and investment in long-term care and rehabilitation for cardiac arrest survivors. As many in our community know firsthand, the current system falls short in numerous areas. There are significant gaps in:
- Structured follow-up care after hospital discharge
- Access to cognitive rehabilitation services
- Support for managing fatigue and emotional challenges
- Resources for families and caregivers
- Return-to-work programmes
You can help emphasise the urgent need for more evidence-based approaches to long-term recovery by highlighting these gaps in your comments.
How You Can Contribute
I strongly encourage everyone in the SCA UK community to read the “Long Term Outcome after Cardiac Arrest” section (starting on line 2281) and submit your comments before the deadline of 26th May.
Providing feedback is straightforward:
- Visit https://cprguidelines.eu/guidelines/chapter-1
- Read the relevant sections that interest you
- Submit your comments through the provided form
- Share your expertise and lived experience
To make this easier, I’ve attached an extract of the Post-Resuscitation Care guidelines to this blog post. This will allow you to focus specifically on the relevant sections without navigating through the entire document, which is quite large and technical. Of course, you’re welcome to review the complete guidelines if you prefer.
ERC-and-ESICM-Post-Resus-Guidelines-public-comments-1_LongTermOutcomesRemember, the comment period ends on 26th May 2025, so please take this opportunity to make your voice heard.
Looking Ahead: The Impact of These Guidelines
Once finalised, the 2025 ERC Resuscitation Guidelines will shape clinical practice, influence healthcare policies, and determine resource allocation across Europe (and ultimately the UK). By contributing to this process, we can help ensure that the needs of cardiac arrest survivors and their families are addressed adequately throughout the recovery journey.
While there’s still work to be done to expand the evidence base for post-cardiac arrest rehabilitation, these guidelines represent our best collective knowledge and provide a framework for continued improvement.
Join the Conversation
Have you already reviewed the draft guidelines? What are your thoughts on the Long Term Outcomes section? Do you feel it adequately addresses your challenges as a survivor or co-survivor?
Share your perspectives in the comments below, and don’t forget to submit your official feedback through the ERC website at https://cprguidelines.eu/guidelines/chapter-1 before the comment period closes.
Your voice matters in shaping the future of cardiac arrest care across Europe.
After our first meet-up in February 2015, I realised I was not alone. It was the first time since my cardiac arrest the previous year that I had spoken face-to-face with someone who had experienced what I had. This was also true for my wife, who also happened to be my lifesaver. From that meet-up, the idea of SCA UK was born. Since then, we have achieved a considerable amount, primarily providing information, resources and support to others in a similar situation but also raising the profile of survivorship and the need for better post-discharge care. We are starting to get traction in this, and with the formation of the charity, I genuinely believe we have a bright future ahead and will make a significant difference in the lives of many who join our ranks.