title: How to diagnose the cause of sudden cardiac arrest.
abstract: Sudden cardiac death or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is defined as natural death that occurs within an hour of the onset of acute symptoms or during sleep due to a primary cardiac cause. Most cases of SCA are attributable to coronary artery disease, with occult cardiomyopathy or inheritable arrhythmic syndromes accounting for a minority of SCA. Diagnosing the cause of SCA has potential implications for the patient and the family, and demands a comprehensive approach. This review summarizes the potential causes of SCA and outlines a systematic diagnostic approach to the SCA survivor.
authors: Department of Cardiology, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Hoong Sern
authors: HS
authors: Lim
authors: Rajesh N
authors: RN
authors: Subbiah
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Leong-Sit
authors: Lorne J
authors: LJ
authors: Gula
authors: Allan C
authors: AC
authors: Skanes
authors: Raymond
authors: R
authors: Yee
authors: George J
authors: GJ
authors: Klein
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Krahn
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors