We report a case of sudden cardiac death without premonitory warning signs in a 63-year-old man during non-invasive real-time echocardiography. The patient received emergency CPR and electric defibrillation to restore a normal heart beat. Coronary angiography was performed due to suspected acute myocardial injury, with a negative finding, and implantation of a dual chamber pacemaker without an ICD device was performed.
We present a discussion of the clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and diagnostic features of sudden cardiac death. This is the first reported case of sudden cardiac death during real-time echocardiography. This report also confirms that sudden cardiac death may present as the heart suddenly stopping beating without any preceding warning signs such as life-threatening arrhythmia.