[Sudden cardiac death]

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death is instant unexpected death that occurs within one hour of an abrupt change in a person's stable clinical state. The mechanism is generally a ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The underlying pathology is usually coronary heart disease. In 1990, 18 patients who survived sudden cardiac death, excluding those with acute myocardial infarction, were evaluated and treated in our institution. 15 patients had coronary heart disease, one had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, one had dilated cardiomyopathy and one had a replaced aortic valve. Evaluation included heart catheterization and electrophysiological examination. Treatment was specifically tailored to each patient according to etiology, results of all tests and the patient's prognostic factors. Treatment included a permanent pacemaker-cardioverter-defibrillator, antiarrhythmic drug therapy, aortocoronary bypass and betablocker therapy.