PEARL Study
A note about the study: Most medical research studies require an individual’s informed consent in writing before they can be enrolled, but patients arriving in cardiac arrest cannot speak for themselves. They may not have a family member there who can speak for them. Therefore, this study required public outreach to make the community aware of it and provide a way for people to opt out. The PEARL study is closed, a new study (ACCESS) is now open.
The Maine Medical Center PEARL Study is focused on people who arrive in the emergency department in cardiac arrest. The study was designed to research the safety and benefits of heart catheterization (heart cath) when done within 90 minutes of hospital arrival in patients that don't have certain finding on their ECGs. This study aims to answer the question: Does an early heart catheterization improve survival rates in this group of patients?
"PEARL is a critically important study addressing the question of how to best manage patients who experience cardiac arrest. The question we hope to answer is whether cardiac arrest patients, regardless of ECG findings, should be taken to the cath lab to evaluate their heart arteries." - Dr. Samip Vasaiwala
"The PEARL Study will tell us when cardiac catheterization should be done after cardiac arrest and CPR. This is a crucial question in resuscitation science and Maine Medical Center is proud to be on the leading edge of this important research area. We believe the trial results will lead to new therapeutic options for desperately ill patients … and improve the chances that a patient suffering from cardiac arrest will make it home to their loved ones." - Dr. David Seder