November 5, 2024

Commotio Cordis Is Real, According to Experts, and More Awareness Can Save Lives

Commotio cordis is a significant but unusual cause of unexpected death, especially amongst young individuals, and occurs without pre-existing heart illness. It can take place to athletes during sports or in daily scenarios. The intensity of the chest effect triggering commotio cordis varies, in some cases being severe or remarkably moderate. Quick identification and reaction to such events are essential, as immediate CPR or defibrillation can reverse heart arrest. The exact cause of commotio cordis is not totally understood, however it involves a chest blow striking the heart during a particular 20 ms duration of the T waves upstroke.A current short article in Heart Rhythm Case Reports discusses the case of an 18-year-old basketball gamer who suffered from commotio cordis, resulting in heart attack, after being hit in the chest.A new case report published in Heart Rhythm Case Reports, a main journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, released by Elsevier, details the commotio cordis event experienced by a Romanian basketball player that led to heart attack. The case is unique since it is verified and documented by an ECG and video proof of the occasion. Swift action by observers conserved his life.Rising Awareness of Commotio Cordis in SportsIn early January 2023, commotio cordis got substantial presence and prestige as the underlying cause of cardiac arrest when Damar Hamlin, a defensive player for the Buffalo Bills, was struck in the chest throughout a crash with a challenger in an US NFL expert football game. Rapid cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation were lifesaving, with the event witnessed by millions on tv in real-time. In Bucharest, Romania, 60 days later and 5,000 miles away, another commotio cordis occasion happened, this time during a youth basketball tournament game saw just by buddies and households. An 18-year-old basketball player (M.V.) was hit in the chest by an unintended light blow from an opponents elbow and collapsed during the video game, which was shot and recorded. Fast CPR and one defibrillation shock conserved his life.Initially, there is a scramble for a loose ball and player M.V. (large white arrow) is struck in the chest by the elbow of a challenger. M.V. stumbles however stays upright for a couple of seconds simply prior to full collapse in heart arrest. Credit: Heart Rhythm Case ReportsGlobal Incidence and Understanding of Commotio CordisCommotio cordis occasions have been reported worldwide in more than 20 countries, however are extremely uncommon and practically always counterproductive, as in M.V.s case. In commotio cordis, ventricular fibrillation is precipitated by a blow over the heart and requires an exact timing to a narrow 20 ms window at the upstroke of the T wave.After the commotio cordis event, M.V. was analyzed at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, MA, USA, by a group led by Barry J. Maron, MD.There is a scramble for a loose ball and player M.V. (white arrow) is struck in the chest by the elbow of a challenger. M.V. stumbles but stays upright for a few seconds just prior to full collapse in heart attack. Credit: Heart Rhythm Case ReportsDr. Maron describes, “There is some uncertainty concerning the presence of commotio cordis. Because the case of the Romanian basketball gamer was recorded and recorded, it verifies the existence of commotio cordis. It is a real phenomenon, and it takes place in genuine people in sports and in daily living. It is necessary to raise awareness of this condition, which is reversible with prompt intervention, as this case demonstrates.” Health and Recovery Post-Commotio CordisPrior to the event, M.V. was entirely healthy without cardiovascular complaints; there is no household history of cardiovascular disease. When assessed at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center 6 weeks after his heart attack, he was neurologically undamaged and asymptomatic, without residual medical problems, and had actually begun to resume regular day-to-day activities without difficulty.The commotio cordis occasion reported here is noteworthy for expanding the scientific spectrum of commotio cordis, given that competitive basketball previously had actually not been connected with this reason for heart attack. Contact sports such as baseball/softball and hockey have controlled commotio cordis, owing to the greater possibility of physical contact and chest blows from hard-core projectiles (e.g., balls and pucks). Dr. Maron concludes, “In this report, we have highlighted as soon as again that commotio cordis can take place under essentially any scenario where there is the possibility of physical bodily contact of any magnitude, or projectile-induced chest blows, but always when least anticipated. This might be the best-documented case we have of commotio cordis, which should go a long way to eliminate skepticism.” Reference: “Commotio cordis … as soon as again: Unusual incident in a noncontact sport” by Barry J. Maron, Ethan J. Rowin and Martin S. Maron, 13 November 2023, HeartRhythm Case Reports.DOI: 10.1016/ j.hrcr.2023.10.013.

The specific cause of commotio cordis is not fully understood, however it involves a chest blow striking the heart throughout a particular 20 ms period of the T waves upstroke.A current article in Heart Rhythm Case Reports talks about the case of an 18-year-old basketball player who suffered from commotio cordis, leading to heart arrest, after being struck in the chest.A new case report published in Heart Rhythm Case Reports, a main journal of the Heart Rhythm Society, released by Elsevier, information the commotio cordis event experienced by a Romanian basketball gamer that resulted in heart arrest. Swift action by onlookers saved his life.Rising Awareness of Commotio Cordis in SportsIn early January 2023, commotio cordis got significant visibility and notoriety as the underlying cause of heart arrest when Damar Hamlin, a protective player for the Buffalo Bills, was struck in the chest throughout a crash with an opponent in a United States NFL expert football video game. In commotio cordis, ventricular fibrillation is precipitated by a blow over the heart and requires an exact timing to a narrow 20 ms window at the upstroke of the T wave.After the commotio cordis event, M.V. was examined at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, MA, USA, by a group led by Barry J. Maron, MD.There is a scramble for a loose ball and gamer M.V. (white arrow) is struck in the chest by the elbow of a challenger. When evaluated at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center six weeks after his cardiac arrest, he was asymptomatic and neurologically intact, without residual medical issues, and had started to resume normal day-to-day activities without difficulty.The commotio cordis occasion reported here is notable for broadening the clinical spectrum of commotio cordis, offered that competitive basketball previously had not been associated with this cause of cardiac arrest.