Sudden death in congenital heart disease.

Sudden cardiac death is a common mechanism of demise in association with congenital cardiac abnormalities. The varied mechanisms may include failure of the transitional circulation, arrhythmias, postoperative or perioperative complications in the neonate and coronary ischaemia, arrhythmias, sepsis, thrombosis, or pulmonary hypertensive crisis in the older child. Knowledge of the natural history of unoperated and operated forms of congenital heart disease and long term follow up with the detection and treatment of underlying hemodynamic abnormalities should improve outcomes. There are few patients with congenital cardiac anomalies that are cured and most require long term care.