“A blow to the heart and you’re to blame…”
Bon Jovi
The recent high profile on field cardiac arrest, recovery and subsequent return to play of an American NFL football, has shone light on the rare medical condition of Commotio Cordis. This is the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation after an impact to the chest, centred over the left ventricle. It seems to be particularly common after sporting events, but other cases associated with different mechanisms of trauma are likely more complex and less well documented. Baseball, NFL, soccer, hockey, polo, rugby, cricket, lacrosse and boxing have all reported multiple cases. Baseball hitting pitcher is the single most common mechanism. It is likely the origin of the touch of death legend in martial arts The USA has about 10-20 fully documented cases per year, 96% of which are male, have a mean age of 14 years and a survival rate of 20%. Commotio cordis can occur only upon impact within a narrow window of about 40 milliseconds in the cardiac electrical cycle, explaining why it is so rare. It is part of the reason why precordial thumps are controversial in CPR protocols. #timingiseverything #letsmakelmonade
Pen Paint and Scalpel 