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Despite the significant decline in coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality in the second half of the 20th century, 1 sudden cardiac death (SCD) continues to claim 250 000 to 300 000 US lives annually. 2 In North America and Europe the annual incidence of SCD ranges between 50 to 100 per 100 000 in the general population. 3–6 Because of the absence of emergency medical response systems in most world regions, worldwide estimates are currently not available. 7 However, even in the presence of advanced first responder systems for resuscitation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the overall survival rate in a recent North American analysis was 4.6%. 8 SCD can manifest as ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), pulseless electric activity (PEA), or asystole. In a significant proportion of patients, SCD can present without warning or a recognized triggering mechanism. The mean age of those …