Open AccessSudden Death Due to Nonarrhythmic Cause in a Patient with L‐TGA
Author(s) -
Hayward Robert M.,
Ursell Philip C.,
Foster Elyse,
Tseng Zian H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
annals of noninvasive electrocardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1542-474X
pISSN - 1082-720X
DOI - 10.1111/anec.12112
Subject(s) - medicine , autopsy , sudden death , cause of death , cardiology , population , sudden cardiac death , stenosis , disease , environmental health
We report a case of sudden death in a clinically stable adult with l‐transposition of the great arteries (l‐TGA). Sudden death has been reported to be the leading cause of death in l‐TGA and is often attributed to arrhythmias in the absence of another identifiable cause. However, the contribution of nonarrhythmic causes to the burden of sudden death in this population is unknown. Comprehensive postmortem investigation, including autopsy and pacemaker interrogation, demonstrated that the cause of death was massive pulmonary hemorrhage due to stenosis of the patient's mechanical tricuspid (systemic AV) valve. This report highlights the important contribution of nonarrhythmic causes of sudden death in this population and the value of autopsy and device interrogation in determining true cause of death.