Electrical storm in a middle-aged man

Ghana Med J. 2023 Jun;57(2):156-160. doi: 10.4314/gmj.v57i2.11.

Abstract

Electrical storm (ES) refers to a life-threatening condition characterised by three or more episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), or appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks in 24 hours. We report a case of a 58-year-old man who suffered recurrent episodes of sustained VT despite appropriate defibrillation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy. On stepwise evaluation, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) was considered the most likely substrate for his dysrhythmia. He was managed conservatively on antiarrhythmic drugs with no further clinical episodes of VT, and ICD implantation for secondary prophylaxis was recommended.

Funding: None declared.

Keywords: Electrical storm; arrhythmia; arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy; ventricular fibrillation; ventricular tachycardia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia* / complications
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia* / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia* / therapy
  • Defibrillators, Implantable*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular* / complications
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular* / therapy
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / complications
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents