[Effective low-dose amiodarone therapy for ventricular tachycardia complicated with ischemic heart disease and poor left ventricular function in an elderly patient]

Nihon Ronen Igakkai Zasshi. 1997 Dec;34(12):1017-22. doi: 10.3143/geriatrics.34.1017.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 71-year-old man who had ischemic heart disease with poor left ventricular function and ventricular tachycardia was admitted to hospital for evaluation. Cardiac catheterization was performed on August 19, 1996, and right coronary arteriography revealed total occlusion at segment 3. Left coronary arteriography revealed total occlusion at segment 6, and a lesion at segment 13 was 75% occluded. Partial collateral flow from the right ventricular branch to the left anterior descending artery was demonstrated, and the left ventricular ejection fraction was 24%. Recurrent ventricular tachycardia followed by pre-syncope occurred from August 23, 1996, and the patient underwent emergency coronary artery bypass surgery to the left anterior descending artery and circumflex artery using saphenous vein grafts. Ventricular tachycardia followed by pre-syncope occurred frequently after the bypass surgery, and antiarrhythmic agents (Vaughan Williams classification Ia and Ib groups) were ineffective. He received amiodarone (100 mg/day after a loading dose of 200 mg/day for 2 weeks) from September 6, 1996. His symptoms of arrhythmia decreased, and side effects have not been observed. Low-dose amiodarone was effective in this case of ischemic heart disease with left ventricular dysfunction and sustained ventricular tachycardia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amiodarone / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocardial Ischemia / complications*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / drug therapy*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / physiopathology*
  • Ventricular Function, Left / physiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Amiodarone