What are the most common causes of cardiac arrest in children?

Common causes of sudden cardiac arrest in children include the long QT syndrome, commotio cordis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, according to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. It can also be a result of asphyxia, reports PubMed Central.

Sudden cardiac arrest is defined as a condition where the heartbeat stops abruptly and unexpectedly, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital explains. The blood stops flowing to the brain, the heart and the rest of the body, and the person collapses. It is different from a heart attack where a blood clot blocks a coronary artery. Prompt initiation of CPR and defibrillation can help in the recovery after a cardiac arrest, states PubMed Central.