What is the most common cause of pediatric cardiac arrest?

• A. Acute myocardial infarction
• B. Arrhythmia during athletic activity
• C. Progressive tissue hypoxia and acidosis due to respiratory failure and/or shock
• D. Traumatic brain injury

Answer: (C)

In pediatric cardiac arrest, the most common initiating problem is inadequate oxygen delivery due to respiratory failure or shock. When a child cannot oxygenate properly or maintain perfusion, tissues, including the heart and brain, become progressively hypoxic and accumulate lactic acidosis. That worsening hypoxia and acidosis depress heart function and electrical activity, leading to the collapse that marks cardiac arrest.

This explains why the answer points to progressive tissue hypoxia and acidosis from respiratory failure and/or shock as the frequent cause. In contrast, acute myocardial infarction is rare in children, arrhythmias during athletic activity can cause sudden events but are less common, and traumatic brain injury, while serious, is not the typical initiating cause of pediatric cardiac arrest.