The very sudden cardiac death syndrome -- a conceptual model for pathologists.
Sudden unexpected death usually involves one of two mechanisms, fast heart stoppage or slow heart stoppage with respiratory arrest. These physiological derangements arise from diverse causes that are sometimes purely functional without structural correlates. The autopsy is considered to be only an investigative tool to be employed and is interpreted in the light of the terminal event, social and medical history, and environmental circumstances.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D004556:Electric Injuries / Q000150:complications; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010336:Pathology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000503:physiopathology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology