Aa
Sudden death
Please, I need your help. On 10/7/07, my 37 y.o., perfectly healthy son died in his bathroom. He was very fit, road a bicycle to work 15 miles each way, weather permitting, watched what he ate, was not over-weight and had no obvious medical problems. The autopsy report showed no heart, brain or lung issues, nothing at all. Toxicology reports showed trace elements of benedryl (he had trouble sleeping), ibuprophen (he sometimes took this for a sore back) and trace alcohol (he was out the night before with friends, but did not over imbibe. There were NO drugs of abuse. He was in his bathroom, havigna bowel movement and was found on the floor with his underwear around his ankles. He had vomited and asphyxiated to death. He had been having constipation issues for a while, and was taking fiber capsules to help. He was also taking melatonin to help sleep, but that was a while ago, not recently. I cannot get a complete answer on the real cause of death. The Coroner has asked for a deeper tier of tests on his fluids and tissues. I am wondering if a prolonged QT wave might have precipitated an arrhythmia? It would seem that he passed out, then aspirated vomitus, because there was no projection of stomach contents. Also, could there have been a vaso-vagal issue going on? FYI, most of the men on his mohter's side (grandfather, granduncles and uncle) all had heart issues requiring pacemakers. As a father who has lost his only child, I am desparate for answers. Can you please shed some light on the possible causes of death? Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I am very sorry for your loss. There are no words for situations like this better.
I am wondering if a prolonged QT wave might have precipitated an arrhythmia?
Situations like this will often end with no satisfactory answer. I tell you this so you can prepare yourself that you might not find out an answer to your question. This would not be a typical for long QT syndrome. There are 8 different identified types of long QT syndrome, not all of which are deadly. The three most common are associated with exercise, being startled, and events during sleep. Electrolyte abnormalities can make someone with a borderline QT at baseline prolong, but the events surrounding your sons death do not sound typical of long QT syndrome.
It would help if there was an old EKG. If the EKG was completely normal, long QT would be unlikely.
It is important to know if there is a family history of sudden infant death, seizures, premature death or death a at a young age, sudden death during exercise, drownings, etc. This can suggest a possible genetic cause.
There is an expensive genetic test by familion that looks for genetic causes of sudden death.
http://www.familion.com/
You would have to talk with the coroner to see if these tests can still be run. They can be expensive.
Also, could there have been a vaso-vagal issue going on?
Vaso-vagal episodes do not cause sudden death. They are usually transient. If there was injury from the fall, that could cause problems, but not from the vaso vagal episode itself.
I am at a loss for what else to say. The incidence of sudden death like this is low, but when it happens to a loved one, it doesn't matter how common it is.
May God bless you and your family and I wish you the best.
I am wondering if a prolonged QT wave might have precipitated an arrhythmia?
Situations like this will often end with no satisfactory answer. I tell you this so you can prepare yourself that you might not find out an answer to your question. This would not be a typical for long QT syndrome. There are 8 different identified types of long QT syndrome, not all of which are deadly. The three most common are associated with exercise, being startled, and events during sleep. Electrolyte abnormalities can make someone with a borderline QT at baseline prolong, but the events surrounding your sons death do not sound typical of long QT syndrome.
It would help if there was an old EKG. If the EKG was completely normal, long QT would be unlikely.
It is important to know if there is a family history of sudden infant death, seizures, premature death or death a at a young age, sudden death during exercise, drownings, etc. This can suggest a possible genetic cause.
There is an expensive genetic test by familion that looks for genetic causes of sudden death.
http://www.familion.com/
You would have to talk with the coroner to see if these tests can still be run. They can be expensive.
Also, could there have been a vaso-vagal issue going on?
Vaso-vagal episodes do not cause sudden death. They are usually transient. If there was injury from the fall, that could cause problems, but not from the vaso vagal episode itself.
I am at a loss for what else to say. The incidence of sudden death like this is low, but when it happens to a loved one, it doesn't matter how common it is.
May God bless you and your family and I wish you the best.
I'm at a loss for the right words. I'm just so sorry that you have lost your precious son. I hope thas as time passes, you will find solace in your memories and the grace in your heart to go on and live your best life in his memory.
In September, a friend of mine got up to use the bathroom during the night. She had been having back pain and was trying to get treatment for the pain. That night, she was on the toilet when she passed out. She ended up hitting her head and cutting her mouth pretty badly. The ER ran tests and she was referred to cardiologists and neurologists for further testing. The only diagnosis that has surfaced is vaso-vagal syncope (and a herniated disk). The doctor said she should be careful when using the bathroom b/c she would be prone to these episodes.
I'm wondering if your son was not feeling well and one thing led to another. My son was recently hospitalized after a terrible bout of food poisoning. He was very sick and said he had never felt that way,ever. Do you know if your son was dehyrated? Any chance he had been ill that evening (vomiting, diarrhea) to the point of passing out? I don't want to drum up any further grief, but do hope you are able to find some answers. Surround yourself with family and friends, even if you don't feel much like talking. They'll understand.
May peace be with and your family.
In September, a friend of mine got up to use the bathroom during the night. She had been having back pain and was trying to get treatment for the pain. That night, she was on the toilet when she passed out. She ended up hitting her head and cutting her mouth pretty badly. The ER ran tests and she was referred to cardiologists and neurologists for further testing. The only diagnosis that has surfaced is vaso-vagal syncope (and a herniated disk). The doctor said she should be careful when using the bathroom b/c she would be prone to these episodes.
I'm wondering if your son was not feeling well and one thing led to another. My son was recently hospitalized after a terrible bout of food poisoning. He was very sick and said he had never felt that way,ever. Do you know if your son was dehyrated? Any chance he had been ill that evening (vomiting, diarrhea) to the point of passing out? I don't want to drum up any further grief, but do hope you are able to find some answers. Surround yourself with family and friends, even if you don't feel much like talking. They'll understand.
May peace be with and your family.
My sincere condolences on the lost of your son.I hope you find anwers to your questions, I can only imagine your grief. I can only tell you that a similar story that I read , some men tend pass out sometime while urinating, it is a vasovagally induced, it in itself Ithink is considered a benign condition but one could fall injure the head and die among other things so in that regard it can be potentially dangerous.Probably your son had a similar episode and in the process vomited and being passed out actually choked to the death on his own vomit, I seen/read about 2 or 3 incidents such as this for which no other explanation. I hope you get some answers. Once again you have my deepest sympathy.
You are reading content posted in the Heart Rhythm Forum
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
