Sudden Cardiac Arrest Analysis

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA/SCD) Analysis

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a sudden, unexpected death caused by a change in heart rhythm (Sudden Cardiac Arrest).

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest and How is it different from a heart attack?

Sudden cardiac arrest is not a heart attack but can occur during a heart attack.

Heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in blood supply to the heart. If the oxygen in the blood cannot reach the heart muscle, the heart becomes damaged.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest occurs when the electrical system of the heart suddenly becomes very irregular and abnormal. The heart beats dangerously fast due to electric short-circuits. Sudden Cardiac Arrest due to electric short-circuits (ventricular fibrillation), leads to severe fall in blood pressure and person will lose consciousness. Death follows unless emergency treatment is given immediately.

Emergency treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation.

  • 1. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): It is a manual technique using repetitive chest compression and breathing into the person's airways that keeps enough oxygen and blood flowing to the brain.
  • 2. Defibrillation: It is a technique where normal heart rhythm is restored with an electric shock to the chest. Emergency team use portable defibrillators and public access defibrillators (AEDs, automated external defibrillators) to deliver an electric shock to the patient.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Analysis

Assessment and Investigations in case of Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

  •  ECG (Detail analysis)
  •  Echocardiogram
  •  Treadmill test (TMT)
  •  Holter monitoring
  •  External loop recording (ELR)
  •  Implantable loop recorder (ILR)
  •  EP study
  •  Cardiac MRI
  •  Coronary angiography (CAG)
  •  Genetic analysis & Family screening

What are the causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Most sudden cardiac deaths are caused by heart rhythm abnormality. The most common life-threatening heart rhythm abnormality is ventricular fibrillation, which is an erratic, disorganized firing of impulses from the ventricles due to electric short-circuits.

What are the risk factors of Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

  • Previous heart attack with a large area of damaged heart muscles.
  • Prior episode of sudden cardiac arrest
  • Family history of sudden cardiac arrest or SCD
  • Genetic problem related abnormal heart rhythm (long or short QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, ARVC, CPVT, WPW syndrome)
  • History of syncope (fainting episodes of unknown cause)
  • Heart failure (Weaker heart's pumping, LVEF less than 35%)
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscle of the ventricles)
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Enlarged heart)
  • Complete Heart block
  • Drug abuse (Cocaine and others)

Can Sudden Cardiac Arrest be prevented?

If you have any of the risk factors for sudden cardiac death, it is important to consult cardiac electrophysiologist and speak about possible steps to reduce your risk.
  • 1. Assessment and investigations (as mentioned above)
  • 2. Lifestyle modification
  • 3. Medications
  • 4. Heart failure management
  • 5. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
  • 6. Interventional Procedures or Surgery like angioplasty, EP study & catheter ablation
  • 7. Educating Family Members

Can Sudden Cardiac Arrest be treated?

Yes, sudden cardiac arrest can be treated, but emergency action must take place immediately.

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