A 57-Year-Old Unconscious Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department

A 57-year-old unconscious man is brought to the emergency department by his wife.  Thirty minutes prior, the patient developed severe chest pain and asked to be taken to the hospital.  On the way, he became unresponsive.  According to his wife, the patient had been having intermittent, short-lived episodes of chest pain over the past several days.  The patient's medical history is significant for hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypercholesterolemia.  He is not adherent with medications or follow-up.  In the emergency department, the patient has no spontaneous respirations or circulation and is pronounced dead.  An autopsy examination is performed, and a cross-section of the mid-right coronary artery is shown in the exhibit. 
Which of the following is the most likely immediate cause of death in this patient?

A) Atrial fibrillation
B) Cardiac free wall rupture
C) Embolic stroke
D) Regional contractile dysfunction
E) Ventricular fibrillation
F) Ventricular septal rupture

Correct Answer:

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