II. Epidemiology
- Among the most common causes of Sudden Cardiac Death in athletes
III. Pathophysiology
- Blunt Chest Trauma at the Cardiac Cycle time of T-Wave
- Results in sudden cardiac depolarization with R on T phenomenon and pulseless Arrhythmia
- Ventricular Fibrillation (more common with high speed impact)
- Asystole
IV. Management: Emergent
- ABC Management
- Blunt Chest Trauma
- Greatest chance of survival is for early cardiac Defibrillation within first 5 minutes
- Chance of survival <25% with Defibrillation delayed >5 minutes
V. Management: Following Return of Spontaneous Circulation
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Echocardiogram
- Telemetry (followed by outpatient Holter Monitor or Zio Monitor)
VI. References
- Dreis (2020) Crit Dec Emerg Med 34(7):3-21