General evaluation of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death survivors.

Abstract

Survivors of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death may have any of a number of etiologies as the cause. Careful in-hospital evaluation is necessary for providing adequate therapy for such patients. In the great majority of survivors of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac death, such evaluation necessarily includes invasive electrophysiological testing for both diagnostic and therapeutic indications. Given the high incidence of recurrence, effective therapy, based on individualized evaluation, must be found.