Final answer:
The condition most likely to cause cardiac arrest in a 14-year-old baseball player hit by a ball in the chest is Commotio cordis, which disrupts the heart's electrical system. Immediate CPR with high-quality chest compressions is essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most likely explanation for a 14-year-old baseball player in cardiac arrest after being hit in the chest with a line drive is Commotio cordis.
This condition occurs when a sudden blunt impact to the chest, such as from a baseball, causes cardiac arrest. The impact can disrupt the heart's electrical system, leading to a life-threatening arrhythmia.
Other options like myocardial contusion, traumatic asphyxia, and hemothorax could result from chest trauma, but Commotio cordis specifically refers to sudden cardiac arrest induced by a blow to the chest area directly over the heart.
Proper intervention includes immediate CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to restore blood flow to the brain and vital organs.
High-quality chest compressions are critical, done at a rate of 100 compressions per minute to the beat of 'Staying Alive' by the Bee Gees.
CPR should be continued until the patient shows signs of life or a healthcare professional declares death.
correct option C. Commotio cordis