Focal origin of ventricular fibrillation in a patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy

A 65-year-old patient with history of ischemic cardiomyopathy admitted to the hospital for chest pain and subsequently experienced incessant ventricular fibrillation (VF), requiring repeated defibrillation. Coronary angiogram was unchanged, compared to a study a year before, and acute ischemia was n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the National Medical Association 2004-09, Vol.96 (9), p.1228-1231
Main Authors: MAHI LAKSHMI ASHWATH, SOGADE, Felix O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiac dysrhythmias
Cardiology. Vascular system
Coronary Artery Disease - complications
General aspects
Heart
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Myocarditis. Cardiomyopathies
Ventricular Fibrillation - etiology
Ventricular Fibrillation - physiopathology
Ventricular Fibrillation - therapy
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Summary:A 65-year-old patient with history of ischemic cardiomyopathy admitted to the hospital for chest pain and subsequently experienced incessant ventricular fibrillation (VF), requiring repeated defibrillation. Coronary angiogram was unchanged, compared to a study a year before, and acute ischemia was not considered to be the etiology of the VF. A particular premature ventricular contraction morphology was noted on telemetry prior to each episode of VF. The patient subsequently underwent successful radiofrequency ablation of a focus in the left ventricular free wall. Careful examination of initiating foci of VF or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, with radiofrequency ablation in appropriate cases, could be potentially life-saving.
ISSN:0027-9684
1943-4693