Following cardiac arrest, establishing the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and neurological functions is key, with the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) having a direct effect on protecting central and distal vital organs. In addition to traditional chest compression, high-performance cardiopulmonary resuscitation (HPCPR) and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) are thought to associate stronger organ perfusion and less interruption. Unfortunately, the effect and cost should be considered together; therefore, the positive recommendation is still not very clear.

Recently, the American Heart Association (AHA) published “Cardiac Arrest and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Outcome Reports” on Sep 16, 2019. Utstein-style reporting templates were revised and “core variables” were considered essential for quality improvement programs. Moreover, the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) also pointed out the importance of CPR quality (ECPR, ECLS, mechanical CPR) in their coming 2020 guidelines. Several leading journals also discussed how to increase the quality and outcome in CPR and post-cardiac arrest care (including strategic application of ECPR and hypothermia in treating pediatric or traumatic patients). Applications of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) for abdomen-pelvic hemorrhage, emergency vascular access for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are also hot and timely.

The updated knowledge globally guides the treatment strategies of critical and emergency care. New focused categories, related to post-cardiac arrest care, cardiac arrest or shock management, and cardiovascular emergency intervention, are interesting for scientific researchers. All new guidelines and knowledge can be further clinically applied or even challenged by researchers in the future. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to solicit high quality, original research articles, as well as review articles, focused on the field of emergency and critical care, particularly those with a focus on resuscitation for cardiac arrest and post-cardiac arrest care.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR)
• Applications of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), hypothermia therapy, post-cardiac arrest care
• Applications of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion (REBOA) and emergency vascular access for ECMO
• Pre/in-hospital high performance cardiopulmonary resuscitation (HPCPR)
• Traumatic cardiac arrest and major trauma
• Pediatric critical care
• Infections, toxicology, and cardiovascular emergency
• Molecular, cell, and animal studies associated with critical care or emergency medicine