What is the leading cause of pediatric cardiac arrest?

Respiratory failure is identified as the leading cause of pediatric cardiac arrest because many cases in infants and children are preceded by respiratory issues. Unlike adults, where cardiac events like myocardial infarctions are more common, children often experience a decline in oxygen levels due to respiratory distress or failure, which can lead to a subsequent cardiac arrest.

In many pediatric patients, conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, or other respiratory illnesses can compromise breathing, then lead to hypoxia (low oxygen in the blood). If not addressed quickly, this can result in a severe lack of oxygen to the heart, causing it to stop beating. Early intervention in respiratory emergencies can thereby prevent progression to cardiac arrest, making it critical to monitor and manage the respiratory status in children.

While other options like trauma, cardiomyopathy, and congenital heart defects can certainly lead to cardiac events, they are less common causes of cardiac arrest in the pediatric population compared to complications arising from respiratory issues.