A 64-year-old man with diabetes mellitus was diagnosed with a non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and was treated with stent implantation. Four days later, he developed an electrical storm (ES) that persisted despite antiarrhythmic drugs and sedation. External defibrillation was performed more than 100 times over 2 hours. After ruling out the common causes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, an ES was considered because of brady-dependent R-on-T phenomenon, presumably precipitated by antiarrhythmic drugs. Temporary transvenous atrial overdrive pacing allowed complete suppression of premature ventricular complexes and ventricular fibrillation.
Keywords: arrhythmias; ischaemic heart disease; pacing and electrophysiology; resuscitation.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.