The most common cause of cardiac arrest in children is related to heart issues, particularly congenital heart defects. Structural abnormalities of the heart present at birth, such as aortic valve stenosis, atrial septal defect, and coarctation of the aorta, are leading causes of cardiac arrest in children. Other significant causes include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias like ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. Respiratory problems such as infections or asthma may also lead to cardiac arrest but are less common than cardiac-related causes in children.
Details on Causes
- Congenital Heart Defects: The primary cause of sudden cardiac arrest in children, these defects affect the heart’s pumping ability.
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A thickening of the heart muscle that can cause dangerous arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest.
- Arrhythmias: Electrical abnormalities causing abnormal heart rhythms that can directly trigger cardiac arrest.
- Respiratory Causes: Issues like choking, asthma attacks, and respiratory infections can lead to cardiac arrest through oxygen deprivation.
Cardiac causes overshadow non-cardiac causes like trauma or poisoning in the pediatric population for cardiac arrest.
