Ventricular fibrillation resulting from acute right ventricular infarction from isolated occlusion of a right ventricular branch artery

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2003 Mar;8(1):5-8. doi: 10.1177/107424840300800i102.

Abstract

Malignant ventricular arrhythmias can result from isolated right ventricular infarction, and reports of this phenomenon in the literature are rare. We present a case of a 46-year-old man with acute onset of chest pain angiographically confirmed to be a result of isolated occlusion of a right ventricular branch artery. He developed ventricular fibrillation within 5 hours of symptom onset. This case highlights the point that despite its benign clinical appearance and preserved left ventricular function, necrosis of right ventricular tissue can have life-threatening consequences.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Coronary Disease / complications*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart Arrest / etiology
  • Heart Arrest / physiopathology
  • Heart Ventricles / pathology
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / drug therapy
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / etiology*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / drug therapy
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / etiology*
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / physiopathology