Search

Home > Emergency Medical Minute > Podcast 843: Commotio Cordis
Podcast: Emergency Medical Minute
Episode:

Podcast 843: Commotio Cordis
Category: Science & Medicine
Duration: 00:04:50
Publish Date: 2023-01-09 11:00:00
Description:

Contributor: Jared Scott, MD

Educational Pearls:

  • Commotio cordis is sudden ventricular fibrillation precipitated by direct impact to the chest 
  • A national registry, US Commotio Cordis Registry, reports an average of 10-20 cases annually 
    • 95% of reported cases occur in males, indicating possible genetic component 
    • Average age of patient in registry is 15 
  • Most cases occur during sporting events (baseball in particular), in addition to physical altercations and industrial accidents 
  • Treatment is high quality CPR and early defibrillation 
    • Survival rate is improving but remains around 35% 
  • In recent events, American football player Damar Hamlin survived a Commotio cordis event after being tackled on field and receiving CPR 

References

Link MS. Commotio cordis: ventricular fibrillation triggered by chest impact-induced abnormalities in repolarization. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2012;5(2):425-432. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.111.962712

Maron BJ, Poliac LC, Kaplan JA, Mueller FO. Blunt impact to the chest leading to sudden death from cardiac arrest during sports activities. N Engl J Med. 1995;333(6):337-342. doi:10.1056/NEJM199508103330602

 

Summarized by Kirsten Hughes, MS4 | Edited by John Spartz, MD, & Erik Verzemnieks, MD

 

The Emergency Medical Minute is excited to announce that we are now offering AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ via online course modules. To access these and for more information, visit our website at https://emergencymedicalminute.org/cme-courses/ and create an account. 
Total Play: 0

Users also like

800+ Episodes
Radioresepsj .. 700+     10+
20+ Episodes
Lung Story S .. 70+     10+