Sudden Cardiac Death

Sudden cardiac death refers to cardiac arrest that occurs without clinical warning. The etiology is usually arrhythmia.

Brugada Syndrome is a genetic disorder that results in sudden cardiac death from polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation in the setting of a structurally normal heart.

Alpha receptor agonists are substances that activate the sympathetic nervous system by stimulation of alpha receptors, similar to the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Adenosine sensitive ventricular tachycardia occurs in structurally normal hearts and arises from the right ventricular outflow tract (pulmonary infundibulum). This gives it a left bundle branch block morphology on the 12-lead ECG.

Commotio cordis is a rare phenomenon that can occur when chest wall trauma during the ascending limb of the T wave results in ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death.

Prolonged QT syndrome (a.k.a. Long QT Syndrome) consists of multiple different variations including long QT type 1-12, Romano-Ward syndrome and Jervell-Lange-Nielsen syndrome.

Congenital coronary anomalies are quite common and frequently have no clinical consequence. On occasion, a “malignant” anomaly can occur resulting in myocardial ischemia, angina and even sudden cardiac death.

The Bland-White-Garland Syndrome is a congintal coronary anamaly in which the left main coronary artery arises from the pulmonary artery.