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Heart Failure Reviews Sep 2018Postmortem imaging is increasingly used in forensic practice as good complementary tool to conventional autopsy investigations. Over the last decade, postmortem cardiac... (Review)
Review
Postmortem imaging is increasingly used in forensic practice as good complementary tool to conventional autopsy investigations. Over the last decade, postmortem cardiac magnetic resonance (PMCMR) imaging was introduced in forensic investigations of natural deaths related to cardiovascular diseases, which represent the most common causes of death in developed countries. Postmortem CMR application has yielded interesting results in ischemic myocardium injury investigations and in visualizing other pathological findings in the heart. This review presents the actual state of postmortem imaging for cardiovascular pathologies in cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD), taking into consideration both the advantages and limitations of PMCMR application.
Topics: Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Heart Diseases; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; Postmortem Changes
PubMed: 29725812
DOI: 10.1007/s10741-018-9705-0 -
Pediatric Emergency Care Dec 2023Sudden, Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is a term that encompasses apparently natural deaths in children over one year of age with no discernible cause despite a...
Sudden, Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is a term that encompasses apparently natural deaths in children over one year of age with no discernible cause despite a thorough assessment. Definitive underlying causes vary but most cases remain largely unexplained. Research has furthered the view that SUDC is not an accident, but rather a sentinel medical event for which a thorough postmortem investigation is indicated. Emerging evidence in genetics, neurology, and neuropathology point to heterogeneous causes that in some cases share features of recognized diseases.
Topics: Humans; Infant; Death, Sudden; Sudden Infant Death
PubMed: 38019719
DOI: 10.1097/01.pec.0000997588.40847.b0 -
Clinics in Sports Medicine Jan 2008Sudden death in athletes is an extremely rare event yet no less tragic for its infrequency. Up to 90% of these deaths are due to underlying cardiovascular diseases and... (Review)
Review
Sudden death in athletes is an extremely rare event yet no less tragic for its infrequency. Up to 90% of these deaths are due to underlying cardiovascular diseases and therefore categorized as sudden cardiac death (SCD). The causes of SCD among athletes are strongly correlated with age. In young athletes (<35 years), the leading causes are congenital cardiac diseases, particularly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and congenital coronary artery anomalies. By contrast, most of deaths in older athletes (<35 years) are due to coronary artery disease. This review focuses on the cardiac causes of SCD and provides a brief summary of the principal noncardiac causes. Current pre-participation screening strategies are also discussed, with particular emphasis on the Italian experience.
Topics: Death, Sudden; Heart Diseases; Humans; Mass Screening; Sports
PubMed: 18206573
DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2007.09.004 -
Medicine Apr 2023Sudden death is a leading cause of deaths nationally. Definitions of sudden death vary greatly, resulting in imprecise estimates of its frequency and incomplete...
Sudden death is a leading cause of deaths nationally. Definitions of sudden death vary greatly, resulting in imprecise estimates of its frequency and incomplete knowledge of its risk factors. The degree to which time-based and coronary artery disease (CAD) criteria impacts estimates of sudden death frequency and risk factors is unknown. Here, we apply these criteria to a registry of all-cause sudden death to assess its impact on sudden death frequency and risk factors. The sudden unexpected death in North Carolina (SUDDEN) project is a registry of out of-hospital, adjudicated, sudden unexpected deaths attended by Emergency Medical Services. Deaths were not excluded by time since last seen or alive or by prior symptoms or diagnosis of CAD. Common criteria for sudden death based on time since last seen alive (both 24 hours and 1 hour) and prior diagnosis of CAD were applied to the SUDDEN case registry. The proportion of cases satisfying each of the 4 criteria was calculated. Characteristics of victims within each restrictive set of criteria were measured and compared to the SUDDEN registry. There were 296 qualifying sudden deaths. Application of 24 hour and 1 hour timing criteria compared to no timing criteria reduced cases by 25.0% and 69.6%, respectively. Addition of CAD criteria to each timing criterion further reduced qualifying cases, for a total reduction of 81.8% and 90.5%, respectively. However, characteristics among victims meeting restrictive criteria remained similar to the unrestricted population. Timing and CAD criteria dramatically reduces estimates of the number of sudden deaths without significantly impacting victim characteristics.
Topics: Humans; Death, Sudden; Risk Factors; Coronary Artery Disease; North Carolina; Emergency Medical Services; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Cause of Death
PubMed: 37083784
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033029 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Feb 2008With leading researchers saying smoking and other modifiable factors account for most sudden infant deaths, asks whether it is time to put the diagnosis to bed (Review)
Review
With leading researchers saying smoking and other modifiable factors account for most sudden infant deaths, asks whether it is time to put the diagnosis to bed
Topics: Attitude to Health; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Infant; Posture; Sleep; Smoking; Sudden Infant Death
PubMed: 18258964
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.39455.496146.AD -
Current Opinion in Cardiology Jan 2013Unexplained sudden death and the sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) affect a small but significant proportion of young and apparently healthy individuals. This... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Unexplained sudden death and the sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) affect a small but significant proportion of young and apparently healthy individuals. This review revisits the causes underlying such deaths and the investigational strategies that identify surviving family who may be at risk.
RECENT FINDINGS
Recent epidemiological data is available from case series or government records. The yield from familial cardiological evaluation for inherited conditions has been supported by additional small series. The greatest advance has come with molecular autopsy studies, which have utilized various methodologies and candidate genes to investigate SADS cases and their families.
SUMMARY
The latest research replicates and extends the existing knowledge regarding epidemiology and familial evaluation of SADS, whilst genetic studies support a role for the molecular autopsy.
Topics: Autopsy; Causality; Death, Sudden; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Family; Family Health; Female; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Testing; Heart Diseases; Humans; Male; Risk Assessment; Young Adult
PubMed: 23128498
DOI: 10.1097/HCO.0b013e32835b0a9e -
FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology Sep 2004Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is sudden unexpected death in infancy for which there is no explanation after review of the history, a death scene investigation and... (Review)
Review
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is sudden unexpected death in infancy for which there is no explanation after review of the history, a death scene investigation and a thorough autopsy. The use of common diagnostic criteria is a prerequisite for discussing the importance of infection, inflammatory responses and trigger mechanism in SIDS. Several observations of immune stimulation in the periphery and of interleukin-6 elevation in the cerebrospinal fluid of SIDS victims explain how infections can play a role in precipitating these deaths. Finally, these findings and important risk factors for SIDS are integrated in the concept of a vicious circle for understanding the death mechanism. The vicious circle is a concept to elucidate the interactions between unfavourable factors, including deficient auto-resuscitation, and how this could result in death.
Topics: Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infections; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Sudden Infant Death
PubMed: 15325392
DOI: 10.1016/j.femsim.2004.06.015 -
Current Opinion in Critical Care Dec 2021Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a major health burden around the globe, most often occurring in the community (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest [OHCA]). SCA accounts... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a major health burden around the globe, most often occurring in the community (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest [OHCA]). SCA accounts for 15-20% of all natural deaths in adults in the USA and Western Europe, and up to 50% of all cardiovascular deaths. To reduce this burden, more knowledge is needed about its key facets such as its incidence in various geographies, its risk factors, and the populations that may be at risk.
RECENT FINDINGS
SCA results from a complex interaction of inherited and acquired causes, specific to each individual. Resolving this complexity, and designing personalized prevention and treatment, requires an integrated approach in which big datasets that contain all relevant factors are collected, and a multimodal analysis. Such datasets derive from multiple data sources, including all players in the chain-of-care for OHCA. This recognition has led to recently started large-scale collaborative efforts in Europe.
SUMMARY
Our insights into the causes of SCA are steadily increasing thanks to the creation of big datasets dedicated to SCA research. These insights may be used to earlier recognize of individuals at risk, the design of personalized methods for prevention, and more effective resuscitation strategies for OHCA.
Topics: Adult; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Europe; Humans; Incidence; Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest; Risk Factors
PubMed: 34629421
DOI: 10.1097/MCC.0000000000000896 -
Pediatric and Developmental Pathology :... 2003The past decade and a half has seen marked changes in the epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The avoidance of certain risk factors such as sleeping... (Review)
Review
The past decade and a half has seen marked changes in the epidemiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The avoidance of certain risk factors such as sleeping prone and cigarette smoke exposure has resulted in the death rate falling dramatically. Careful evaluation of environmental factors and endogenous characteristics has led to a greater understanding of the complexities of the syndrome. The development and implementation of death scene and autopsy protocols has led to standardization in approaches to unexpected infant deaths with increasing diagnoses of accidental asphyxia. Despite these advances, there is still confusion surrounding the diagnosis, with deaths being attributed to SIDS in many communities and countries where death scene investigations and autopsies have not been conducted. The following review provides a brief overview of the historical background, epidemiology, pathology, and pathogenesis of SIDS. Contentious issues concerning the diagnosis and current problems are discussed. Despite calls to abandon the designation, SIDS remains a viable term for infants who die in their sleep with no evidence of accident, inflicted injury, or organic disease after a full investigation has been conducted according to standard guidelines.
Topics: Asphyxia; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Risk Factors; Sudden Infant Death
PubMed: 12532258
DOI: 10.1007/s10024-002-0205-8 -
Health Expectations : An International... Feb 2023The death of a baby is devastating for parents, families and staff involved. Involving bereaved parents in their baby's care and in the maternity hospital perinatal... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
The death of a baby is devastating for parents, families and staff involved. Involving bereaved parents in their baby's care and in the maternity hospital perinatal death review can help parents manage their bereavement and plan for the future. In Ireland, bereaved parents generally have not been involved in this review process. The aim of our study was to assess parents' perception of how they may be appropriately involved in the maternity hospital perinatal death review in ways that benefit them and the review process itself.
METHODS
Bereaved parents (n = 20) in Ireland were invited to take part in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was carried out on the interview transcripts.
RESULTS
Four main themes were identified based on the participants' views and opinions on how they experienced the review process and how they feel this process may be improved. The themes reflect the journey of the parents through the different stages of the review process: Throughout process; On leaving the hospital; Interaction with the hospital 'waiting in limbo'; Review itself. Identified subthemes highlighted essential aspects of this process and care provided to parents. For the parents, open, honest communication with staff, as well as having a key hospital contact was essential. Parents wished to provide feedback on their experience and wanted to be included in the review of their baby's death, in a way that was sensitive to their needs and the hospital's schedule.
CONCLUSION
A respectful, flexible system that allows bereaved parents' involvement in their baby's perinatal death review and is tailored to their needs is essential. A collaborative process between staff and parents can highlight clinical areas in need of change, enhance lessons learned, improve bereavement services and may prevent future perinatal deaths.
PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION
Bereaved parents were interviewed for this study.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Perinatal Death; Stillbirth; Hospitals, Maternity; Bereavement; Parents
PubMed: 36335583
DOI: 10.1111/hex.13645