RT Book, Section A1 Kasper, Dennis L. A1 Fauci, Anthony S. A1 Hauser, Stephen L. A1 Longo, Dan L. A1 Jameson, J. Larry A1 Loscalzo, Joseph SR Print(0) ID 1128781889 T1 Cardiovascular Collapse and Sudden Death T2 Harrison's Manual of Medicine, 19e YR 2016 FD 2016 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071828529 LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1128781889 RD 2024/03/28 AB Unexpected cardiovascular collapse and death most often result from ventricular fibrillation in pts with acute or chronic atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Other common etiologies are listed in Table 10-1. Arrhythmic causes may be provoked by electrolyte disorders (primarily hypokalemia), hypoxemia, acidosis, or massive sympathetic discharge, as may occur in CNS injury. Immediate institution of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) followed by advanced life support measures (see below) is mandatory. Ventricular fibrillation, or asystole, without institution of CPR within 4–6 min is usually fatal.