Atrial fibrillation begets ventricular fibrillation when the AV node fails

Abstract

Deterioration of atrial fibrillation into ventricular fibrillation has frequently been described in patients with pre-excitation of the ventricles. We report two cases of atrial fibrillation without pre-excitation leading to rapid ventricular tachycardias and recurrent implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in young idiopathic ventricular fibrillation patients.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Cardiac ablation; Case series; Enhanced atrioventricular nodal conduction; Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation; Sudden cardiac arrest.