title: [Sudden cardiac death: definition, mechanisms and risk factors].
abstract: Sudden cardiac death is defined as natural death due to cardiac causes, heralded by abrupt loss of consciousness within one hour after the onset of symptoms. The mechanisms are the following: 1. ventricular fibrillation, 2. ventricular tachycardia and flutter with subsequent ventricular fibrillation, 3. torsade de pointe, 4. bradyarrhythmias and asystolic arrest. White the main risk factor is the presence of coronary artery disease, any organic or functional disease of the heart can predispose for sudden cardiac death. To evaluate the risk of sudden cardiac death noninvasive (Holter, echocardiography, exercise test and signal averaged (ECG) and often invasive (electrophysiological study) tests are necessary. The therapy is based on drugs (mainly beta blockers and amiodarone), coronary revascularization, catheter ablation techniques and the implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator; the latter appears to be the most promising approach.
authors.affiliation: Division de cardiologie, Hôpital cantonal de Lucerne.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evéquoz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Erne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization; D012307:Risk Factors; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
vernacular_title: Mort subite cardiaque: définition, mécanismes et facteurs de risque.