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Sudden cardiac arrest in school athletes: understanding the role of pre-participation screening.

ABSTRACT
Background
Sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes is a tragic event that can potentially be reduced through the implementation of a pre-participation screening program. While the absolute contents of this program are debated, consensus does exist, that should such a program be implemented, a reduction in mortality will be found. The emphasis of any pre-participation screening is found in a history and basic physical examination, with or without routine electrocardiogram testing. This is based on the understanding that 90% of sudden cardiac arrests are attributable to an underlying cardiac pathology with the majority being hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Debate continues around the cost effectiveness of such a program but there is no doubt that in a society that is promoting an active lifestyle and with the pressure of competitive sport at most schools, there is likely to be zero tolerance for not being able to screen for potentially lethal cardiac pathology.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/17421
Date13 April 2015
CreatorsAnderson, Peter William Henry
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Formatapplication/pdf, application/pdf

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