Question

which of the following is the most common cause of death in patients who die within 2 hours following a myocardial infarction?
cardiac failure
fatal arrhythmia
myocardial rupture
thromboembolism

Explanation:

In the early hours (within 2 hours) after a myocardial infarction, the heart's electrical system is highly unstable. Fatal arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation (which causes chaotic electrical activity in the ventricles and stops effective pumping of the heart), are the most common cause of death in this immediate post - infarction period. Cardiac failure can occur later as the heart muscle's function deteriorates over time (not within 2 hours). Myocardial rupture (tearing of the heart muscle) usually occurs a few days after infarction (3 - 7 days) when the infarcted area is weakening. Thromboembolism (formation and dislodgement of a blood clot) is more of a concern in the sub - acute phase (after the immediate hours) when the patient is relatively stable but at risk of clot formation due to stasis of blood in the damaged heart chambers.

Answer:

Fatal arrhythmia