COMMOTIO CORDIS
Commotio Cordis (CC) is the medical term for a rare disruption of the
heart's electrical system that occurs from a blunt impact to the chest
and leads to sudden cardiac arrest. CC is largely the result of
the timing of the blow during a narrow window within the repolarization
phase of the cardiac cycle. It throws the heart into a lethal
abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation; a useless
quivering of the heart muscle.
Sudden death due to VF may occur when a baseball or other projectile
strikes the precordium of an individual with no underlying cardiac
disease. Young athletes are especially at risk because of the
pliability of their chest walls. Athletes wearing chest protectors
have died while playing baseball, lacrosse, hockey and softball.
The risk of CC cannot be completely eliminated through the use of
protective equipment. The true number of deaths is unknown due to
inaccurate reporting.
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can save the life of someone
whose heart is in a VF rhythm. To save lives and prevent death
from CC, coaches, bystanders and other sports personnel should be
trained to recognize and respond promptly by performing Cardio Pulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) and using an AED.
Community based programs should have AEDs onsite and readily available.
If the victim is defibrillated within one minute of cardiac arrest, the
reported survival rate can be as high as 90%. If defibrillated
within 5 minutes, the survival can be as high as 50%. AEDs are
critically to saving the life of someone stricken with CC.
Additional Information:
Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation
www.la12.org
US Lacrosse
www.uslacrosse.org/safety/commotio_cordis.phtml
