2020 APHRS/HRS expert consensus statement on the investigation of decedents with sudden unexplained death and patients with sudden cardiac arrest, and of their families

Martin K. Stiles, Arthur A.M. Wilde, Dominic J. Abrams, Michael J. Ackerman, Christine M. Albert, Elijah R. Behr, Sumeet S. Chugh, Martina C. Cornel, Karen Gardner, Jodie Ingles, Cynthia A. James, Jyh Ming Jimmy Juang, Stefan Kääb, Elizabeth S. Kaufman, Andrew D. Krahn, Steven A. Lubitz, Heather MacLeod, Carlos A. Morillo, Koonlawee Nademanee, Vincent ProbstElizabeth V. Saarel, Luciana Sacilotto, Christopher Semsarian, Mary N. Sheppard, Wataru Shimizu, Jonathan R. Skinner, Jacob Tfelt-Hansen, Dao Wu Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

This international multidisciplinary document intends to provide clinicians with evidence-based practical patient-centered recommendations for evaluating patients and decedents with (aborted) sudden cardiac arrest and their families. The document includes a framework for the investigation of the family allowing steps to be taken, should an inherited condition be found, to minimize further events in affected relatives. Integral to the process is counseling of the patients and families, not only because of the emotionally charged subject, but because finding (or not finding) the cause of the arrest may influence management of family members. The formation of multidisciplinary teams is essential to provide a complete service to the patients and their families, and the varied expertise of the writing committee was formulated to reflect this need. The document sections were divided up and drafted by the writing committee members according to their expertise. The recommendations represent the consensus opinion of the entire writing committee, graded by Class of Recommendation and Level of Evidence. The recommendations were opened for public comment and reviewed by the relevant scientific and clinical document committees of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS); the document underwent external review and endorsement by the partner and collaborating societies. While the recommendations are for optimal care, it is recognized that not all resources will be available to all clinicians. Nevertheless, this document articulates the evaluation that the clinician should aspire to provide for patients with sudden cardiac arrest, decedents with sudden unexplained death, and their families.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)e1-e50
JournalHeart rhythm
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2021

Keywords

  • Brugada syndrome
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Cardiac genetics
  • Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
  • Defibrillator
  • Expert consensus statement
  • Genetic counseling
  • Guidelines
  • Long QT syndrome
  • Postmortem
  • Resuscitation
  • Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome
  • Sudden cardiac death
  • Sudden unexplained death
  • Ventricular arrhythmia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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