International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation

International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) is an international organization that was established in 1992 to provide a forum for liaison between principal resuscitation organizations worldwide. The primary goal of ILCOR is to improve patient outcomes by coordinating efforts to increase the scientific knowledge related to resuscitation and by promoting evidence-based resuscitation policies and practices through consensus and dissemination of scientific data. ILCOR operates by conducting systematic reviews of resuscitation literature and organizing consensus conferences to develop consensus statements and treatment recommendations known as the Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR).

History

The formation of ILCOR was motivated by the recognition that international collaboration and coordination were needed to effectively address the complexities and challenges of resuscitation. Since its inception, ILCOR has grown to include major resuscitation organizations from around the globe, including the American Heart Association (AHA), the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, the Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation, the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa, the InterAmerican Heart Foundation, and the Resuscitation Council of Asia.

Mission and Activities

ILCOR's mission is to "save lives by increasing the survival rate and outcomes of patients experiencing cardiac arrest or other catastrophic emergencies through worldwide collaboration and consensus on science with treatment recommendations." To achieve this mission, ILCOR focuses on several key activities:

• Conducting systematic reviews of resuscitation research to identify and evaluate evidence that can improve resuscitation practices.
• Organizing consensus conferences to develop Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) documents.
• Promoting the global dissemination and implementation of evidence-based resuscitation guidelines.
• Facilitating collaboration among member organizations to harmonize resuscitation guidelines and practices across different regions and contexts.

Consensus on Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR)

The CoSTR documents are a cornerstone of ILCOR's efforts to improve resuscitation outcomes worldwide. These documents are developed through a rigorous process that involves systematic review of the available scientific literature, assessment of the evidence, and consensus building among experts from ILCOR member organizations. The CoSTR documents provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of science in resuscitation and offer treatment recommendations that are intended to guide practice and policy.

Impact

ILCOR's work has had a significant impact on the field of resuscitation. The consensus statements and guidelines developed by ILCOR have been widely adopted and implemented by healthcare providers and institutions around the world, leading to improvements in the quality of resuscitation care and patient outcomes. Additionally, ILCOR's efforts to promote international collaboration and consensus building have helped to standardize resuscitation practices and reduce variability in care.

Challenges and Future Directions

Despite its successes, ILCOR faces ongoing challenges, including the need to continually update and refine its recommendations in response to new scientific evidence and the challenge of ensuring the global implementation of its guidelines. Looking forward, ILCOR aims to further enhance its processes for evidence evaluation and consensus building, expand its outreach and impact in low- and middle-income countries, and continue to promote the integration of scientific evidence into resuscitation practice and policy worldwide.