What is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) refers to a critical condition that occurs when there is a malfunction in the heart's electrical system. This malfunction leads to an abrupt loss of the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, resulting in a cessation of blood flow to the body and brain. In SCA, the heart may go into a chaotic rhythm known as ventricular fibrillation or may stop beating altogether, causing a person to collapse and lose consciousness within moments.

Understanding that SCA is primarily an issue of electrical dysfunction is vital for appropriate emergency response. Immediate intervention, often involving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, is crucial to restore the heart's normal rhythm and prevent death. Other conditions like heart attacks or heart failure can lead to SCA but are distinct from it, as they focus more on the physical obstruction or weakening of the heart muscle instead of the electrical system's failure. Thus, recognizing this distinction is important for both prevention and treatment.