Commotio cordis: An underappreciated cause of sudden cardiac death in young patients: Assessment and management in the ED

Commotio cordis is the condition of sudden cardiac death or near sudden car diac death after blunt, low-impact chest wall trauma in the absence of stru ctural cardiac abnormality. Ventricular fibrillation is the most commonly r eported induced arrhythmia in commotio cordis. Blunt impact injury to the c hest with a baseball is the most common mechanism. Survival rates for commo tio cordis are low, even with prompt CPR and defibrillation. (Am J Emerg Me d 2001;19:406-409. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company).