Ventricular tachycardia initiated by high energy cardioversion in a patient with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Heart. 1997 Apr;77(4):373-4. doi: 10.1136/hrt.77.4.373.

Abstract

A transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implanted into a 58 year old woman with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy who had drug refractory monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT). Antitachycardia pacing failed to terminate the VT; termination was attempted at 24 J, which was above the defibrillation threshold. When cardioversion at 24 J was delivered, VT with a different morphology and slower rate was reproducibly initiated. At 3 J, however, the original VT was successfully terminated without initiation of the slower VT. A new VT may be induced by high energy cardioversion. This may be a manifestation of the proarrhythmic potential of ICDs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / physiopathology
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / therapy
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / adverse effects*
  • Electric Countershock / adverse effects*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / physiopathology