The temporal sequence of cardiac arrest can be explained by a 3-phased time sensitive model. These phases include electrical (lasting 0 to 4 minutes from time of cardiac arrest), circulatory (lasting 4 to 10 minutes from time of cardiac arrest), and metabolic (lasting > 10 minutes from time of cardiac arrest), and they require specific treatments. Weisfeldt and Becker, (2002)
Sudden cardiac death occurs in the setting of acute insult including acidosis, acute myocardial infarction, cardiac tamponade, hypoxia, …show more content…
There are considerable traditional markers of CAD, such as hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and lipid abnormalities, are not specific enough to identify patients at high risk for SCA. American Heart Association, (2001)
Recently, genetic studies have been identified MEF2A, which is located on chromosome 15q26.3 with high level of expression in coronary endothelium. Approximately 1% to 2% of CAD patients may carry an MEF2A mutation. Wang, (2005)
The peaks of incidence of sudden cardiac arrest occur between birth and 6 months of age because of the sudden infant death syndrome, and then again between 45 and 75 years of age as a result of coronary artery disease. Herlitz et al., (2007)
Sudden cardiac arrest accounts for 19% of sudden deaths in children between 1 and 13 years of age and 30% between 14 and 21 years of age. Herlitz et al., (2007)
Also; Donoghue et al., (2005); Atkins et al., (2009); Park et al., (2010) found that pediatric OHCAs are not so rare and children are more likely to survive OHCAs than are adults.
The key therapeutic interventions that make the difference between life and death, characterized as the 5 links in a chain of survival by the American Heart Association (AHA),