Sudden cardiac death historical perspective

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Zand, M.D.[2]

Overview

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) occurs abruptly and unexpectedly in a person who is not known to have cardiac disease. It usually happens within one hour of onset of symptoms. About twenty-five percent of human deaths can be attributed to SCD, with the most common mechanism being the ventricular fibrillation (VF). This concept was first proposed by MacWilliam more than 120 years ago, during the time when the electrocardiogram was not yet invented.