This is a research protocol with explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. It cannot be combined with other scan protocols. Per Dr. Gunn, these are the criteria:

Study population:

All survivors of idiopathic sudden death, including presumed idiopathic sudden cardiac death, that reach the Emergency Department and who are clinically stable to undergo CT scanning.

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients reaching the Emergency Department within 6 hours of resuscitated idiopathic sudden death (any initial cardiac rhythm).
  2. Cause of the sudden death episode is not obvious to the treating ED physician (i.e., a idiopathic sudden death event) after acute initial evaluation with standard of care.
  3. Clinically stable to have CT performed per treating physician.
  4. Candidates for continued intubation and sedation during the CT scan with or without therapeutic hypothermia protocol.

 Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Meets criteria for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (ST elevation ≥1 contiguous lead or new or unknown duration left bundle branch block on ECG)
  2. Obvious cause of sudden death – Examples: witnessed trauma, drowning, suicide attempt
  3. Known non-revascularized coronary artery disease or coronary stent <2.5 mm.
  4. Known severe renal dysfunction (baseline eGFR<30 ml/hr, creatinine >1.7 mg/dl)
  5. Implantable defibrillator, due to metal artifact from defibrillator coil
  6. Known iodinated contrast allergy
  7. Known hospice patient or terminal disease with expected <3 months survival

For more information on ordering, protocoling, etc., click here.

 

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