The Effect of SPecialty cAre on Recovery From Cardiac Arrest Trial (the SPARC Trial) (NCT07002294) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
The Effect of SPecialty cAre on Recovery From Cardiac Arrest Trial (the SPARC Trial)
United States1,618 participantsStarted 2026-06
Plain-language summary
This randomized clinical trial will determine if adult participants who are in the emergency department after being resuscitated from a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital benefit from care delivered at specialized centers.
The main question that it will answer is whether transferring participants to a hospital with a specialized cardiac arrest service improves recovery of function after 90 days.
Participants will receive all usual medical care, but some participants will be offered transfer to a regional cardiac arrest center and others will be offered care at the closest appropriate hospital. Investigators will interview participants after 90 days to assess their recovery.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
* Resuscitated from cardiac arrest with palpable pulse in the emergency department
* Treated at one of participating hospital emergency departments
* Age ≥18 years
Exclusion Criteria:
* Known prior advanced directives or decision to limit critical care
* Known pre-arrest dependent functional status (e.g., living in a skilled nursing facility, hospice or bedbound)
* Arrest in the emergency department \>4 hours after arrival
* Traumatic etiology of arrest
* Known to have opted-out from the SPARC trial
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is called SPARC and it's looking at whether specialty care affects recovery after cardiac arrest — can you explain what 'specialty care' means in this context, and how it would differ from what I'd normally receive after a cardiac arrest?
2The trial is measuring outcomes using something called the Modified Rankin Scale, which I understand tracks disability and functional recovery — what score would be considered a meaningful improvement for someone in my situation, and is that the kind of outcome that matters most to me personally?
3Since this trial is listed as 'not yet recruiting,' how far off is it from opening, and would it make sense for me to pursue standard post-cardiac arrest care in the meantime rather than waiting?
4This trial doesn't have a traditional phase label, which I'm guessing means it may be focused on comparing care approaches rather than testing a new drug — does that change the nature of the risks involved, and what would my experience as a participant actually look like day to day?
5Are there already established specialty care pathways for cardiac arrest recovery that I could access right now outside of this trial, and how would my doctor weigh enrolling in this study versus pursuing those options?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.