
08/01/2023
Ventricular fibrillation and sudden death triggered by a blunt, nonpenetrating, and often innocent-appearing unintentional blow to the chest without damage to the ribs, sternum, or heart (and in the absence of underlying cardiovascular disease) constitute an event known as commotio cordis, which translates from the Latin as agitation of the heart.
A March 11, 2010, Review Article in NEJM focuses on the clinical profile, proposed mechanisms, and prevention and treatment of commotio cordis. Read the free article: https://nej.md/CommotioCordis