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News Editorial on Sudden Cardiac Arrest http://www.
villagesoup.com/guestcolumns/story.cfm?storyID=79246
Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes
* Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is defined as death
from cardiac arrest that occurs within
minutes to 2- 6 hours of the onset of
precipitating symptoms.
* There has been very little national data collection of SCD
cases in children and teens. A national
registry and mandated reporting is needed.
* Research compilation estimates that as many as 7,000 or
more young people die suddenly
every year from undiagnosed cardiac anatomical
defects and conduction disturbances...
* It is estimated that the risk of SCD in our youth is 2 to 3
in 100,000. More people died from cardiac arrest than from
breast and prostate cancer, traffic accidents and AIDS
combined.
*** Most of these conditions are
detectable and are treatable ***
Causes of SCD include:
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (the most common cause)
Coronary artery defects
Myocarditis
Aortic stenosis or Aortic rupture
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Long QT syndrome
Mitral valve prolapse
Conduction disturbances (other than LQT)
* These are detectable and treatable conditions *
We need to:
- Be aware of cardiac risk and symptoms;
- Ensure that schools require thorough sports
preparticipation exams;
- Require that schools know and use basic precautions such
as CPR, AED training, and
Response Plans;
- Implement AED Plans in our schools where our children
spend their time.
This is relatively simple.
A child may not get a second chance.
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Chain of Survival
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Websites concerning the need for Emergency
Response Plans and Policies in Schools:
*** National Athletic Trainers Association
www.nata.org/sca/executive_summary.htm
*** SCD/ Emergency Response Plans for
Schools, Published by the AHA,
SCD in young people, and the need for
Emergency Response Plans in all Schools.
*** Signs of Heart Defects Ignored.
Wall Street Journal, June 2005
*** NCCSI Recommendations for Schools;
Emergency Response, risk awareness,
preparticipations exams, etc.
Other References:
1.Sudden cardiac death in young athletes
"Causes, athlete's heart, and screening guidelines"
Jonathan A. Drezner, MD
VOL 108 / NO 5 / OCTOBER 2000 / POSTGRADUATE
MEDICINE
2. Sudden Death Causes
New England Journal of Medicine
Liberthson 334 (16): 1039, Table 1 April 18, 1996
3. Fatalities and Catastrophic Injuries in High School
and College Sports, 1982-1997
Lessons for Improving Safety
Robert C. Cantu, MD; Frederick O. Mueller, PhD
THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE - VOL 27 - NO. 8 -
AUGUST 1999
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