sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), an abrupt, complete loss of heart function that results in loss of blood circulation within the body. An episode of sudden cardiac arrest may be preceded by arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. It is not caused by the blockage of coronary arteries. Within the United States, as many as 450,000 persons may experience sudden cardiac arrest each year; survivors face a 30% to 50% chance of experiencing a repeat episode. Sudden cardiac arrest is reversible in most patients if it is treated within minutes. Compare myocardial infarction, acute myocardial infarction.
