Inappropriate shock delivery by implantable defibrillators with dual chamber pacing during nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with heart block

Authors
Citation
J. Sra et M. Akhtar, Inappropriate shock delivery by implantable defibrillators with dual chamber pacing during nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with heart block, PACE, 23(6), 2000, pp. 1054-1056
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Journal title
PACE-PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
ISSN journal
01478389 → ACNP
Volume
23
Issue
6
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1054 - 1056
Database
ISI
SICI code
0147-8389(200006)23:6<1054:ISDBID>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have improved th e management of patients with ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillat ion (VT/VF).(1-5) Many patients with sustained VT/VF have bradyarrhythmias and nonsustained VT.(6-9) Shock delivery due to nonsustained VT would be an undesirable feature. Abortive shock capability (noncommitted shocks) is a feature available in devices to prevent delivery of shocks for nonsustained VT.(6-8) Recently, the availability of dual chamber pacing capability has improved the efficacy of ICDs by obviating the need of separate pacemaker i mplantation in patients with VT/VF and concomitant bradyarrhythmias.(10) Ho wever, interaction between bradyarrhythmias and VT/VF has not been describe d and has important clinical implications. We report a case in which a pati ent with complete atrioventricular (AV) block and ventricular arrhythmias r eceived an inappropriate shock following spontaneous termination of nonsust ained VT, showing an important shortcoming of devices with these features.