Table 2.
Circumstances of sudden death
| Patient | Sex/Age (yrs) | Circumstances of death | Place & time of death | Documented arrhythmia | Preexisting condition | MRI diagnosis | CT diagnosis | Autopsy diagnosis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
F/28 |
Found semiconscious in bed by sisters, moaned “ambulance” then lost consciousness. |
Home 2330 pm |
No |
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, last follow up 5 yrs prior |
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
Unexplained |
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
| 2 |
M/28 |
Brother heard loud bang overnight, found deceased on floor next morning. |
Home Overnight |
No |
No |
ARVC |
Unexplained |
ARVC |
| 3 |
M/35 |
Complained of chest and arm pain earlier in day. Went to bed as felt unwell later found dead. |
Home 0600-1200 pm |
No |
No |
Acute myocardial infarction |
Unexplained |
Acute myocardial infarction |
| 4 |
M/29 |
Found slumped over toilet seat at home, last seen 12 hours prior. |
Home 1930 pm |
No |
Epilepsy, Alagille Syndrome |
SUDEP (Grey matter heterotopia) |
Unexplained |
SUDEP |
| 5 |
M/31 |
Went for evening jog (usual for him), found by passers by prone on grass footpath. |
Outdoors 1945 pm |
No |
No |
Ruptured aortic aneurysm |
Ruptured aortic aneurysm |
Ruptured aortic aneurysm |
| 6 |
M/1.5 |
NOK put deceased to bed on his back, found short time later cyanosed and not breathing with vomit near mouth |
Home 1940 pm |
No |
Febrile convulsions |
Pneumonia |
Unexplained |
Unexplained |
| 7 |
M/16 |
Complained of flu-like symptoms for preceding 24 hours. Went to bed as felt unwell, found by NOK not breathing in bed. |
Home 1720 pm |
Asystole |
No |
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
Unexplained |
Unexplained |
| 8 |
M/32 |
Collapsed unconscious while dancing in a salsa club. |
Hospital 0000-0600 am |
No |
Type II DM, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia |
Coronary artery disease |
Perforated viscus |
Coronary artery disease |
| 9 |
M/17 |
Found deceased in bed. |
Home Overnight |
No |
No |
ARVC |
Unexplained |
Unexplained |
| 10 |
F/35 |
Collapsed in bathroom, found by husband not breathing. |
Home 1900 pm |
No |
No |
ARVC |
Pulmonary haemorrhage |
ARVC |
| 11 |
F/17 |
Found deceased in bed. |
Home Overnight |
No |
No |
ARVC |
Unexplained |
ARVC |
| 12 |
M/26 |
Complained of nausea and breathlessness then noted to lose consciousness. Had noticed breathlessness and leg pain previous 3–4 days. |
Hospital 0249 am |
No |
No |
Pulmonary embolus |
Pulmonary embolus |
Pulmonary embolus |
| 13 |
F/26 |
Presented to hospital with chest pain, nausea and chills. Rapid deterioration and cardiac arrest |
Hospital 0645 am |
No |
No |
Myocarditis |
Unexplained |
Myocarditis |
| 14 |
M/4 |
Diarrhoea and vomiting day prior to death. Then noted to be lethargic, taken to hospital but deteriorated. |
Hospital 1735 pm |
No |
No |
Unexplained |
Intraabdominal bleed |
Unexplained |
| 15 |
M/27 |
Found unconscious on roadside whilst out jogging. |
Hospital 1200 pm |
VF |
No |
ARVC |
Unexplained |
ARVC |
| 16 |
M/5 |
Found in bed not breathing after vomiting. Had been complaining of headaches for 2 week. |
Home 0320 am |
No |
No |
Intracranial tumour |
Intracranial tumour |
Intracranial tumour |
| 17 | M/29 | Complained of nausea, went to sleep and found deceased by friends following morning. | Home Overnight | No | No | Unexplained | Unexplained | Unexplained |
NB: M = male; F = female; ARVC = arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy; SUDEP = sudden unexplained death in epilepsy; VF = ventricular fibrillation.