The Importance of Cardiac Prescreening: A Case Report of Cardiac Arrest in a Teen Athlete

Abstract

This case study describes a 13-year-old male who presented with ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT) that occurred during football practice. An echocardiogram showed severely diminished biventricular function with an ejection fraction (EF) of 23% and an anomalous left main coronary artery from the right sinus with an apical echogenic mass of 1.2 cm × 1.2 cm, believed to be a thrombus. The patient underwent unroofing of the left main coronary artery. He was discharged on lisinopril, aspirin, and metoprolol, and a follow-up echocardiogram 79 days after discharge showed improved EF of 51% and resolution of the apical thrombus. It is crucial to remember that postsurgical approaches may still present challenges even after the initial repair or intervention. It is important to remain vigilant and aware of any potential issues that may arise as they can have significant impact on the overall success of the procedure.