Sudden Cardiac Death
Sudden cardiac death is unexpected and occurs within 1 hour of symptoms.
- causes and risk factors
- signs and symptoms
- diagnosis
- pathophysiology
- treatments
- consequences and course
- health care team
- the patient
- community involvement
- references
Causes and Risk Factors
Sudden cardiac death appears to be due to ischemic heart disease, leading to fatal ventricular arrhythmias.
Other causes are involved, particularly in younger people:
- congenital structural or arterial abnormalities
- aortic valve stenosis
- mitral valve stenosis
- myocarditis
- dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- pulmonary hypertension
- systemic hypertension and resulting hypertrophy
- problems with electrical conduction system
- isolated hypertrophy
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Pathophysiology
Treatments
An automatic cardioverter defribrillator can counteract episodes of ventricular fibrillation.
Consequences and Course
The Patient
Community Involvement
References