Sudden cardiac death and risk stratification

The first half of this chapter explores the causes, clinical presentation, mechanisms, and clinical evaluation and treatment of sudden cardiac death (SCD), with specific focus on SCD in young athletes. The second half explains risk stratification for SCD and includes brief discussions on 12 lead electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate recovery after exercise, family history of SCD, and premature ventricular contractions (PVC) as a risk factor. Discussions also include nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), signal average ECG (SAECG), heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), T-wave alternans (TWA), programmed electrical stimulation (PES), and primary prevention of SCD. SCD following repair of CHD, factors influencing occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias, and treatment for SCD are also considered.