The Wolf Creek Conferences of resuscitation researchers were initiated by Doctors James Elam, James Jude, and Peter Safar in 1975. The objective was to improve the clinical practices of resuscitation by stimulating laboratory and clinical research. The Tenth Wolf Creek Conference will be held at The Westin Mission Hill Resort at Rancho Mirage, California from June 18 through June 21, 2009. Approximately 70 internationally recognized experts in the field of resuscitation will be invited. The selection of invitees is based on their substantial and continuing contributions to the science and technology of resuscitation medicine. The goals of the conference are: (1) to exchange the most recent clinical and laboratory advances in the sciences and technologies of cardiopulmonary and cerebral resuscitation, trauma and circulatory shock resuscitation among the experts in these fields;(2) to discuss the most significant new discoveries in the fields and their potential for improved clinical practices;(3) to allow for consensus among the experts on the most controversial issues;and (4) to foster dialog and pinpoint opportunities for collaborative research. The principal topics to be covered include: (1) Optimal Timing of Defibrillation;(2) Fluid Resuscitation;(3) Optimizing Mechanical Intervention;(4) The Role of Hypothermia;(5) Optimizing Cerebral Resuscitation;(6) Pharmacological Hibernation;(7) The Effects of Vasopressor Agents;(8) Mechanisms of Circulatory Failure;(9) Optimizing Ventilation;and (10) Optimize Post-resuscitation Management. These sessions will cover the most controversial issues. This traditional conference addresses issues that are of conceptual and pragmatic import in the search for more effective interventions during resuscitation by which the present disappointing yield in this field may be improved.
In the United States, approximately one half of the 2 million deaths each year are due to cardiovascular disease. Of these deaths, approximately one-third or 350,000 occur suddenly and outside of the hospital. Thus, each minute, one person is the victim of sudden (cardiac) death in the United States, and almost one half of the victims are under 65 years of age. However, despite the introduction of modern CPR more than 45 years ago, its universal acceptance, and its wide implementation, no significant improvements in outcome excepting early defibrillation have been demonstrated over these many years. Only less than 5% of these victims are likely to return to an optimal level of functioning. The so-called Wolf Creek Conferences of CPR researchers were initiated by Doctors James Elam, James Jude, and Peter Safar in 1975. The objective was to improve the clinical practices of CPR by stimulating laboratory and clinical research. The Weil Institute of Critical Care Medicine has been the host organization since the forth Wolf Creek conference in 1996 and has been requested to continuously host this conference by the experts in the field. The initial objective of these conferences was at least partially accomplished, and the field of resuscitation science has grown impressively. New capabilities for cardiac resuscitation with automated external defibrillators, greatly expanded Emergency Medicine Systems, and a number of promising new mechanical resuscitation methodologies have emerged. These concepts were initially created from the dialogs among the Wolf Creek expert conferees. In addition, we have witnessed the profound impact of the enlightened scientific insights presented at Wolf Creek conferences on the Guidelines of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation published by the American Heart Association.
