title: Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Pediatrics.
abstract: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the pediatric population is a rare and potentially devastating occurrence. An understanding of the differential diagnosis for the etiology of the cardiac arrest allows for the most effective emergency care and provides the patient with the best possible outcome. Pediatric SCA can occur with or without prodromal symptoms and may occur during exercise or rest. The most common cause is arrhythmia secondary to an underlying channelopathy, cardiomyopathy, or myocarditis. After stabilization, evaluation should include electrocardiogram, chest radiograph, and echocardiogram. Management should focus on decreasing the potential for recurring arrhythmia, maintaining cardiac preload, and thoughtful medication use to prevent exacerbation of the underlying condition. The purpose of this review was to provide the emergency physician with a concise and current review of the incidence, differential diagnosis, and management of pediatric patients presenting with SCA.
authors: *Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician (Scheller), Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, Kansas City, MO; †Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician (Johnson), Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; and ‡Pediatric Cardiologist (Lorts, Ryan), Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
authors: RoseAnn L
authors: RL
authors: Scheller
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Johnson
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Lorts
authors: Thomas D
authors: TD
authors: Ryan
mesh_terms: D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019468:Disease Management; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics