Sudden death in infants, children, and adolescents

Sudden death in infants is rarely due to cardiac disease. Sudden death in children and adolescents is usually associated with cardiac disease. The major congenital lesions associated with sudden death are aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathies, idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, Eisenmenger's syndrome, and cyanotic congenital defects with pulmonary stenosis or atresia. There is a high incidence of postoperative sudden death, especially associated with repair of tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great arteries. Cardiac arrhythmias, including the long Q-T syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, complete heart block, ventricular tachycardia, and pre-excitation are associated with sudden death. It is hoped that identification of high-risk patients along with appropriate intervention and treatment may significantly lower or prevent sudden death in children.