Medizinische Universität Graz - Research portal
Selected Publication:
Zweiker, R; Klein, W; Eber, B; Rotman, B; Schumacher, M; Fruhwald, FM; Gasser, R.
Successful Treatment with Additional Intravenous Magnesium of Incessant Ventricular-Tachycardia Refractory to Amiodarone
MAGNESIUM, BULL. 1994; 16: 126-129.
Web of Science
- Leading authors Med Uni Graz
- Zweiker Robert
- Co-authors Med Uni Graz
- Fruhwald Friedrich
- Gasser Robert
- Rotman Brigitte
- Schumacher Martin
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Ventricular tachycardia is an important and haemodynamically comprising complication in patients suffering from ischaemic heart disease. The case report of a 68 year old female patient with a rare kind of persistent VT (''incessant VT'') is presented. In the past, the patient had suffered from myocardial infarction for three times. During her stay in a rehabilitation center, several episodes of tachycardia with wide QRS-complexes were recorded. Subsequently, oral antiarrhythmic treatment with amiodarone 400 mg per day was started. A few weeks later the patient was admitted to our hospital for cardiac catheterisation. Coronary angiography showed a diffuse three-stem disease, and revascularisation by coronary artery bypass grafting was indicated. While hospitalised, the patient suddenly developed dyspnoa, tachycardia, rules and a fall of systolic and diastolic blood pressure beyond measurable values. ECG evidenced monomorphic wide-complex tachycardia and the patient was transferred to the coronary care unit. Electrical cardioversion with 50 Joule converted the ventricular tachycardia to sinus rhythm. A Holter-ECG, taken at the same day during the whole period of the event demonstrated that, within the last twelve hours, the patient had had episodes of persistent ventricular tachycardias (''incessant VT''). After cardioversion, treatment with intravenous magnesium (Magnesiocard(R)) was started. Nor further occurrence of VT's was recorded during the following hours of Holter-monitoring. ECG and laboratory investigations excluded the presence of acute myocardial infarction. It is concluded that intravenous magnesium may prevent reoccurrence of incessant VT even in patients who do not exhibit a prolonged QT-interval or torsade de pointes tachycardias. No similar reports were found in the literature.