De novo refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmias after coronary revascularization

Eric J. Topol, Bruce B.L. Lerman, Kenneth L. Baughman, Edward V. Platia, Lawrence S.C. Griffith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

Twelve of 1,675 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting during a 2.5-year period had new onset, recurrent, sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia a mean of 27 days (range 2 to 150) postoperatively. No patient had an Intra- or perioperative myocardial Infarction and all patients were hemodynamically stable and had normal metabolic and electrolytic indexes at the time of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Preoperative ejection fraction was 39 ± 10% (mean ± standard deviation) and all patients had Lown grade II or less ventricular ectopic activity on ambulatory monitoring. Postoperative angiography demonstrated occluded saphenous vein grafts In 3 of 7 patients studied, none of whom had symptoms suggestive of myocardial ischemia. Treatment with conventional antlarrhythmic therapy was unsuccessful in all but 1 patient, and 10 patients were treated with amiodarone and 1 patient with propafenons. Four of these patients also received an automatic implantable defibrillator. Thus, de novo ventricular tachyarrhythmia can occur unexpectedly after coronary artery bypass grafting and may be the result of several factors related to either subclinical graft occlusion or increased dispersion of repolarization secondary to reperfusion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)57-59
Number of pages3
JournalThe American journal of cardiology
Volume57
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 1986

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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