[Sudden death].

Sudden death accounts for about 7000 deaths per year in Belgium. Everyone could be concerned, from the newborn to the octogenarian. Due to the scientifical and technical progresses of our rescue teams, our hospitals are more often confronted with resuscitated patients. This syndrome must be considered as a whole clinical entity. Its causes, its physiopathological concepts, its diagnostic and prophylactic tools and its treatment should be fully integrated. The actual conceptions are modifying. Those different aspects are reviewed, in the light of the recent literature.