Primary prevention of sudden cardiac death

Abstract

SCD urgently requires primary prevention because the first clinical event is often fatal, especially in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Patients with acute bradyarrhythmias often retain a basal circulation—for example, due to ventricular escape rhythms. Thereby, the appropriate treatment (often a pacemaker) can usually be deployed in time to prevent irreversible organ damage when a sudden bradyarrhythmia occurs. VF, in contrast, results in a rapid and complete loss of blood circulation. If left untreated, this condition results in irreversible organ (most notably brain) damage after a few minutes.¹ Even in regions of the world with highly …