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Increasing survival rate from commotio cordis
Barry J Maron1, Tammy S Haas, Aneesha Ahluwalia
1Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407, USA. bmaron@mhif.org
Heart Rhythm
|October 31, 2012
Summary
Survival rates for commotio cordis, a sudden death (SD) cause from chest blows, have significantly improved. Increased public awareness and faster defibrillation access are key factors in this positive trend.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Commotio cordis, caused by precordial blows, triggers ventricular fibrillation and sudden death (SD), often without structural heart abnormalities.
- Historically, commotio cordis events have been associated with high fatality rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in commotio cordis mortality rates over time.
- To assess the impact of increased public visibility on survival outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the US Commotio Cordis Registry data spanning four decades.
- Tabulation of reported sudden death or resuscitated cardiac arrest events.
Main Results:
- Survival from commotio cordis increased from 10% (1970-1993) to 58% in the most recent six years.
- Prompt resuscitation (within 3 minutes) and competitive sports participation were linked to higher survival.
- Lower survival rates were observed in African Americans and those in noncompetitive sports; on-site automated external defibrillator use was protective.
Conclusions:
- Survival rates for commotio cordis have demonstrably increased.
- Factors contributing to improved survival include faster response times, greater defibrillation accessibility, and heightened public awareness.
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Assessment:
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History:
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History: