Sudden cardiac arrest in children and young athletes: the importance of a detailed personal and family history in the pre-participation evaluation

Healthcare providers have become more aware of and concerned about paediatric sudden cardiac arrest. The diseases predisposing a patient to sudden cardiac arrest are all infrequently encountered. However, a detailed and comprehensive patient and family history may reveal warning signs and symptoms t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of sports medicine 2009-05, Vol.43 (5), p.336-341
Main Authors: Campbell, R M, Berger, S, Drezner, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Arrhythmias, Cardiac - complications
Athletes
Cardiac arrhythmia
Cardiomyopathies - genetics
Child
Children & youth
Coronary Vessel Anomalies - genetics
Death, Sudden, Cardiac - epidemiology
Death, Sudden, Cardiac - etiology
Death, Sudden, Cardiac - prevention & control
Diagnosis, Differential
Electrocardiography
Family medical history
Heart attacks
Humans
Incidence
Marfan Syndrome - complications
Medical personnel
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Young Adult
Young adults
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Summary:Healthcare providers have become more aware of and concerned about paediatric sudden cardiac arrest. The diseases predisposing a patient to sudden cardiac arrest are all infrequently encountered. However, a detailed and comprehensive patient and family history may reveal warning signs and symptoms that identify a patient at higher risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Since many of these diseases are genetic, extensive family evaluation may uncover a previously undetected cardiac disease process and as well direct the development of a complete family evaluation and treatment plan. Published data document that in many cases preceding warning symptoms and signs are present, but may be misinterpreted or disregarded by medical staff. Attention to the details of patient history, family history and physical exam is critical to the success of any detection strategy, which can and should be widely applied.
ISSN:0306-3674
1473-0480
DOI:10.1136/bjsm.2008.050534