Inappropriate ICD therapy due to proarrhythmic ICD shocks and hyperpolarization

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2004 Mar;27(3):415-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2004.00455.x.

Abstract

A 50-year-old man with an ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent ICD implantation for inducible ventricular fibrillation (VF). Sixteen months later he experienced inappropriate ICD therapy due to atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response. The initial shock resulted in the initiation of VF (proarrhythmia) and the patient received an additional shock converting his rhythm to an idioventricular rhythm with a cycle length of 490 ms (122 beats/min). Due to lead hyperpolarization, the device oversensed ventricular events and the patient subsequently received additional shocks.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Fibrillation / therapy
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / adverse effects*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Time Factors
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / etiology
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / therapy