Cardiac Arrest and Sudden Cardiac Death |
| Structural Associations and Causes |
- Coronary artery disease (chronic, or acute coronary syndromes)
- Cardiomyopathies (dilated, hypertrophic, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, infiltrative disorders [e.g., amyloid])
- Inflammatory (e.g., myocarditis)
- Valvular heart disease (e.g., aortic stenosis, mitral valve prolapse)
- Electrophysiologic abnormalities (e.g., Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome)
- Inherited disorders associated with electrophysiological abnormalities (e.g., congenital long QT syndromes, Brugada syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia)
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| Functional Contributing Factors |
- Transient ischemia
- Low cardiac output states (heart failure, shock)
- Systemic metabolic abnormalities
- Electrolyte imbalance (e.g., hypokalemia)
- Hypoxemia, acidosis
- Neurologic disturbances (e.g., CNS injury)
- Toxic responses
- Proarrhythmic drug effects
- Cardiac toxins (e.g., cocaine, digitalis intoxication)
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| Causes of Pulseless Electrical Activity Leading to Sudden Death |
- Massive pulmonary embolism
- Aortic dissection
- Tension pneumothorax
- Cardiac tamponade
- Exsanguination
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