Basic Electrophysiologic Mechanisms of Sudden Cardiac Death Caused by Acute Myocardial Ischemia and Infarction.

Sudden cardiac death caused by acute ischemia results from electrophysiologic changes in myocardium deprived of its blood supply. These changes include a reduction in resting potential and phase 0 depolarization and an increase in intercellular resistivity that slow conduction, cause conduction block, and lead to reentrant excitation and ventricular fibrillation. Reperfusion of a coronary artery after a short period of occlusion leads to similar changes.