Sudden Death from Cardiac Causes in Children and Young Adults

doi:10.1056/NEJM199604183341607

Volume 334:1039-1044		April 18, 1996		Number 16

Sudden Death from Cardiac Causes in Children and Young Adults

Richard R. Liberthson, M.D.

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Although sudden death in a young person is rare, it can havea great impact on both the lay and the medical communities.Such unanticipated deaths sometimes occur in dramatic circumstancesand often have medical and legal ramifications. Some of thesedeaths are not predictable or preventable by current practicalmeans; however, in many cases there are premonitory symptoms,a family history of sudden death at a young age, clinical orelectrocardiographic abnormalities, or high-risk behavior.

Among older adults, sudden deaths are often due to atheroscleroticcoronary artery disease and terminal ventricular fibrillation.Each year there are 300,000 such deaths . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Myocardial Abnormalities

Coronary-Artery Abnormalities

Congenital Heart Lesions

Arrhythmia and Conduction Abnormalities

High-Risk Behavior

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From Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Liberthson at the Cardiac Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114.

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