Box 2.

Ongoing research.

• Research is ongoing into the utility of chest compressions in patients in traumatic cardiac arrest.

• Novel therapeutic options such as the use of Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta and thoracic aortic compression in patients with hypovolaemic traumatic cardiac arrest are currently being investigated.

• Research is ongoing into emergency preservation resuscitation (formerly known as suspended animation) whereby profound hypothermia to around 10°C is induced rapidly to slow the metabolic rate of all tissues in order to extend the time window to undertake haemostatic surgery. This may be of particular use in patients bleeding from multiple sites.

• The appropriateness of the use of the principles outlined in this paper when dealing with children in traumatic cardiac arrest is currently being explored.