Temporal trends in post-cardiac arrest brain injury research: a bibliometric analysis of evolving priorities and translation gaps.
Resuscitation plus · 2026-07-01 · Method & validation
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-cardiac arrest brain injury (PCABI) is a major determinant of outcomes after cardiac arrest (CA), yet effective neuroprotective interventions remain limited. Although PCABI research has expanded rapidly, a systematic bibliometric evaluation of evolving research priorities and their relationship with translational and clinical evidence gaps remains lacking. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate temporal shifts in PCABI research priorities over the past decade and to explore how evolving bibliometric trends relate to major areas of clinical evidence. METHODS: PCABI-related articles and reviews published from 2016 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and bibliometrix for publication trends, collaboration networks, keyword evolution, burst patterns, co-citation, and disciplinary distribution. RESULTS: A total of 3068 publications were included. Annual output showed an overall upward trajectory, increasing from 229 publications in 2016 to 381 in 2025, with the highest annual contribution observed in 2025. Keyword evolution analysis indicated a shift from therapeutic hypothermia and ischemic brain injury mechanisms toward post-resuscitation care, neurological prognostication, extracorporeal support, neuroimaging, disorders of consciousness, and evidence synthesis. Co-citation analysis showed that the historical intellectual structure of the field remained strongly influenced by landmark temperature-management studies, post-cardiac arrest care guidelines, and foundational pathophysiological publications. CONCLUSION: PCABI-related research has expanded substantially and shifted from temperature management and ischemic injury mechanisms toward broader clinical priorities. However, many emerging directions still require stronger prospective validation. Future research may prioritize multimodal prognostic strategies, bundled post-cardiac arrest care, and clinically translatable neuroprotective interventions.