Definition

1. Noun:
   • A sudden, often fatal medical emergency: "cardiac arrest" refers to the abrupt cessation of normal blood circulation due to the heart's failure to contract effectively. This results in the immediate absence of a pulse and loss of consciousness.
   • A state of absent systole: Specifically, it denotes the failure of the heart's ventricles to contract, which halts the heartbeat and prevents oxygen from reaching vital organs.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was rushed to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest.
  • Immediate CPR is critical for survival following a cardiac arrest.
  • Cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, though a heart attack can cause one.

Advanced Usage

• "to go into cardiac arrest": to experience the sudden onset of cardiac arrest.
  • The athlete went into cardiac arrest during the marathon.
• "to be in cardiac arrest": to be in the state of having no effective heartbeat.
  • The paramedics found the victim already in cardiac arrest.

Variants and Related Words

• Arrest (n): In a medical context, can be used similarly (e.g., ). The term "cardiac" specifies the heart as the site of failure.
• Asystole (n): A specific type of cardiac arrest characterized by a flatline on an ECG, indicating no ventricular electrical activity.
• Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) (n phrase): A common term emphasizing the unexpected nature of the event.

Synonyms

• Asystole: (Technical) A state of no cardiac electrical activity, leading to no contraction.
• Heart stoppage: (Informal) A non-technical term for the heart ceasing to beat.

Related Phrases

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): The emergency procedure performed on someone in cardiac arrest.
• Defibrillation: The treatment for certain types of cardiac arrest, like ventricular fibrillation.

Important Notes

Cardiac arrest is a clinical condition, not a disease itself. It is an event triggered by an underlying problem (e.g., ventricular fibrillation, severe arrhythmia, trauma). It leads rapidly to clinical death if not treated. It is distinct from a heart attack (myocardial infarction), which is a circulation problem often caused by a blockage, though a heart attack can be a cause of cardiac arrest.

Noun

1. absence of systole; failure of the ventricles of the heart to contract (usually caused by ventricular fibrillation) with consequent absence of the heart beat leading to oxygen lack and eventually to death