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Home , Cardiac arrest

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest? Catecholaminergic Polymorphic What are the Ø Occurs suddenly and often without Ventricular and symptoms/warning signs of – other types of warning. Sudden Cardiac Arrest? Ø An electrical malfunction (short- electrical abnormalities that are rare but run in families. Ø Fainting/blackouts (especially circuit) causes the bottom chambers during ) of the (ventricles) to beat NonInherited (not passed on from the Ø SUDDEN dangerously fast (ventricular family, but still present at birth) Ø Unusual / tachycardia or ) and conditions: Ø CARDIAC disrupts the pumping ability of the Coronary Artery Abnormalities – Ø heart. abnormality of the blood vessels that Ø / Ø The heart cannot pump blood to the supply blood to the heart muscle. This Ø Palpitations (heart is beating ARREST (SCA) brain, lungs and other organs of the is the second most common cause of unusually fast or skipping beats) body. sudden cardiac arrest in athletes in Ø Family history of sudden cardiac Ø The person loses consciousness the U.S. arrest at age < 50 AWARENESS (passes out) and has no pulse. Ø occurs within minutes if not abnormalities – failure ANY of these symptoms and warning FORM treated immediately. of the aortic valve (the valve between signs that occur while exercising may the heart and the aorta) to develop necessitate further evaluation from What causes Sudden Cardiac properly; usually causes a loud heart your physician before returning to The Basic Facts on Arrest? murmur. practice or a game. Inherited (passed on from family) Non-compaction – Sudden Cardiac Arrest conditions present at birth of the What is the treatment for a condition where the heart muscle heart muscle: Sudden Cardiac Arrest? does not develop normally. Website Resources: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – Time is critical and an immediate American Heart Association: hypertrophy (thickening) of the left Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome – response is vital. www.heart.org ; the most common cause of an extra conducting fiber is present in Ø CALL 911 sudden cardiac arrest in athletes in the heart’s electrical system and can Ø Begin CPR the U.S. increase the risk of . Ø Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Conditions not present at birth but Cardiomyopathy – replacement of acquired later in life: What are ways to screen for part of the right ventricle by fat and – concussion of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest? scar; the most common cause of heart that can occur from being hit in Lead Author: Arnold Fenrich, MD The American Heart Association sudden cardiac arrest in Italy. the chest by a ball, puck, or fist. and Benjamin Levine, MD recommends a pre-participation history Marfan Syndrome – a disorder of the – infection or and physical including 14 important Additional Reviewers: UIL Medical structure of blood vessels that makes inflammation of the heart, usually cardiac elements. them prone to rupture; often caused by a virus. Advisory Committee The UIL Pre-Participation Physical associated with very long arms and Evaluation – Medical History form unusually flexible joints. Recreational/Performance- Enhancing drug use. includes ALL 14 of these important Inherited conditions present at birth cardiac elements and is mandatory of the electrical system: Idiopathic: Sometimes the underlying annually. Long QT Syndrome – abnormality in cause of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the channels (electrical system) of unknown, even after autopsy. Revised 2016 the heart.

1 What are the current Are there additional options Can Sudden Cardiac Arrest be Ø Each school has a developed safety recommendations for screening available to screen for cardiac prevented just through proper procedure to respond to a medical emergency involving a cardiac young athletes? conditions? screening? arrest. The University Interscholastic League Additional screening using an A proper evaluation (Preparticipation requires use of the specific electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or an Physical Evaluation – Medical History) The American Academy of Pediatrics Preparticipation Medical History form echocardiogram (Echo) is readily should find , but not all, conditions recommends the AED should be placed on a yearly basis. This process begins available to all athletes from their that could cause sudden death in the in a central location that is accessible with the parents and student-athletes personal physicians, but is not athlete. Thismany is because some diseases and ideally no more than a 1 to 1 1 /2 answering questions about symptoms mandatory, and is generally not are difficult to uncover and may only minute walk from any location and that during exercise (such as chest pain, recommended by either the American develop later in life. Others can develop a call is made to activate 911 emergency dizziness, fainting, palpitations or Heart Association (AHA) or the following a normal screening evaluation, system while the AED is being retrieved. shortness of breath); and questions American College of (ACC). such as an infection of the heart muscle about family health history. Limitations of additional screening from a virus. This is why a medical Student & Parent/Guardian include the possibility (~10%) of “false history and a review of the family health Signatures It is important to know if any family positives”, which leads to unnecessary history need to be performed on a yearly I that I have read and member died suddenly during physical stress for the student and parent or basis. With proper screening and understand the above information. activity or during a seizure. It is also guardian as well as unnecessary evaluation, most cases can be identified certify important to know if anyone in the restriction from athletic participation. and prevented. family under the age of 50 had an There is also a possibility of “false Parent/Guardian Signature unexplained sudden death such as negatives”, since not all cardiac Why have an AED on site during or car accidents. This conditions will be identified by sporting events information must be provided annually additional screening. The only effective treatment for Parent/Guardian Name (Print) because it is essential to identify those at is immediate use risk for sudden cardiac death. When should a student athlete of an automated external defibrillator see a heart specialist? (AED). An AED can restore the heart The University Interscholastic League Date If a qualified examiner has concerns, a back into a normal rhythm. An AED is requires the Preparticipation Physical referral to a child heart specialist, a also life-saving for ventricular Examination form prior to junior high pediatric cardiologist, is recommended. fibrillation caused by a blow to the chest athletic participation and again prior to This specialist may perform a more over the heart (commotio cordis). Student Signature the 1st and 3rd years of high school thorough evaluation, including an participation. The required physical electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a Texas Senate Bill 7 requires that at any exam includes measurement of blood graph of the electrical activity of the school sponsored athletic event or team Student Name (Print) pressure and a careful listening heart. An echocardiogram, which is an practice in Texas public high schools the examination of the heart, especially for ultrasound test to allow for direct following must be available: murmurs and rhythm abnormalities. If visualization of the heart structure, may there are no warning signs reported on Ø An AED is in an unlocked location Date also be done. The specialist may also the health history and no abnormalities on school property within a order a treadmill exercise test and/or a discovered on exam, no additional reasonable proximity to the athletic monitor to enable a longer recording of evaluation or testing is recommended field or gymnasium the heart rhythm. None of the testing is for cardiac issues/concerns. invasive or uncomfortable. Ø All coaches, athletic trainers, PE teacher, nurses, band directors and cheerleader sponsors are certified in cardiopulmonary (CPR) and the use of the AED.

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