Aborted sudden cardiac death: a clinical perspective.

Sudden cardiac death in the community remains a major public health problem. The purpose of this article is to outline the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and immediate treatment of the cardiac arrest victim. The subsequent in-hospital diagnostic evaluation and management will then be discussed with an emphasis on the role of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. A systematic and evidence based approach should help to optimize patient care.