Sudden death in a “healthy” youth: Lessons learned

A 19-year-old athletic man presented with cardiac arrest. Two years earlier, he had experienced an episode of rapid palpitations during competition associated with presyncope. At that time, his vital signs were stable, electrocardiogram (ECG) was normal (QTc 440 ms), and exercise echocardiogram was normal. He was advised to add salt to his diet. Months later, the patient again experienced rapid palpitations while walking to his dormitory, but this time he collapsed with documented ventricular fibrillation that terminated after a defibrillator shock.
Source: Heart Rhythm - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Scheinman/Peter ECG Corner Source Type: research