What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
More appropriately called sudden cardiac death, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart stops suddenly and unexpectedly. It is caused by an electrical malfunction of the heart called Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)—an ineffective quivering of the heart muscle (arrhythmia) that makes it unable to pump blood to the body and brain. Eighty to eighty-five percent of the time, victims of SCA present this VF rhythm. Once the blood stops circulating, the SCA victim quickly loses consciousness and finally the ability to breathe. With no pulse and no respiration, someone in cardiac arrest is clinically dead, but there is a brief window during which many victims can be brought back to life. The chance of survival drops rapidly—about ten percent with each passing minute. Thus, patient survival depends on immediate recognition of SCA, early access to the emergency medical services system, early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and early defibrillation. The faster the shock i
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heartbeat stops abruptly and unexpectedly. This usually is caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), an abnormality in the heart’s electrical system. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain the heart and the rest of the body, and the person collapses. In fact, the victim is clinically dead and will remain so unless someone helps immediately. A quick combination of CPR and defibrillation can restore life.
Most victims of sudden cardiac arrest have an abnormal heart rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation. The heart does not beat in a normal and coordinated manner and the blood does not circulate to the heart and brain. When this occurs, the pulse will stop. After the pulse stops, the breathing will cease as well.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), also known as ventricular fibrillation (VF), is an electrical malfunction of the heart. The regular, systematic pumping action of the hearts chambers stops because the normal electrical signal that runs through the heart in a prescribed sequence has been interrupted. Electrical chaos ensues, and results in uncontrolled, non-productive quivering of the heart chambers.
Sudden cardiac arrest cases are usually due to abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias, the vast majority of which are ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrillation is a condition in which the heart’s electrical impulses suddenly become chaotic, causing the heart to cease pumping blood effectively. Victims of SCA collapse and quickly lose consciousness, often without warning. Unless a normal heart rhythm is restored, death will follow within a matter of minutes.
