Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in patients with silent myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery spasm
Article Abstract:
Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia may be caused by painless (silent) myocardial ischemia (deficient blood supply) because of a coronary artery spasm. Myocardial ischemia is a condition characterized by inadequate circulation of blood to the muscles of the heart. Of 356 out-of-hospital survivors of cardiac arrest, five had life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia associated with painless myocardial ischemia induced by coronary artery spasm. In two patients, onset of ventricular arrhythmia was associated with reperfusion rather than myocardial ischemia. Cardiac arrest occurred in two patients during exercise, which may induce both painless myocardial ischemia and coronary artery spasm. Ventricular arrhythmia was induced in only one patient during electrophysiological testing. A calcium-entry-blocking agent prevented arrhythmia in four patients who were treated with a drug to induce coronary artery spasm.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1992
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Clinical trials of implantable defibrillators
Article Abstract:
An implanted defibrillator may benefit certain groups of patients who have a high risk of sudden death from severe arrhythmia. Two 1997 studies of implanted defibrillators showed conflicting results. The CABG Patch study found that implanted defibrillators did not reduce mortality rates in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The AVID study found that implanted defibrillators were superior to antiarrhythmic drugs in reducing mortality from sudden death. However, patients in the AVID study had a history of severe arrhythmia, which was not the case in the CABG Patch study.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1997
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Sudden death due to cardiac arrhythmias
Article Abstract:
Most cases of sudden death are caused by arrhythmias and may occur in people who have no history of heart disease. This review focuses on measures of risk, electrophysiological testing, and prevention.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2001
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Effect of intravenous streptokinase on early mortality in patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction
- Abstracts: Prognostic value of a treadmill exercise score in outpatients with suspected coronary artery disease. Prognostic importance of social and economic resources among medically treated patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease
- Abstracts: Long-term outcome of primary percutaneous coronary intervention versus prehospital and in-hospital thrombolysis for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction
- Abstracts: Discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with HIV infection who have a response to antiretroviral therapy
- Abstracts: Implantable left ventricular assist devices. Capturing the unexpected benefits of medical research. Long-term use of a left ventricular assist device for end-stage heart failure