Description
On June 6, 2012, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) convened a Working Group (WG) in Bethesda, MD to discuss current knowledge and future directions for research in prediction, prevention, and management of pulseless electrical activity (PEA), as well as to explore probable causal pathways. During the past decade, PEA has emerged as one of the dominant mechanisms associated with sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), frequently resulting in sudden cardiac death. WG participants had expertise in basic, clinical, and epidemiologic aspects of SCA, including PEA in particular. WG participants focused on identification of current scientific gaps and areas that require NHLBI leadership, facilitation, and support for scientific and clinical progress.