Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 57, Issue 1 , Pages 25-28 , January 2011

Asymptomatic Sustained Ventricular Fibrillation in a Patient With Left Ventricular Assist Device

  • Mathias C. Busch, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Internal Medicine B, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
    • ,
  • Michael Haap, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Nephrology and Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
    • ,
  • Arnt Kristen, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
    • ,
  • Christian S. Haas, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for correspondence: Christian S. Haas, MD, University of Luebeck, Department of Medicine I, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany; 49-451-500-5060, fax 49-451-500-5066

Received 24 February 2009 ,Revised 11 May 2010 ,Accepted 18 May 2010.

References 

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  2. Krishnamani R, DeNofrio D, Konstam MA. Emerging ventricular assist devices for long-term cardiac support. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2010;7:71–76
  3. Miller LW, Pagani FD, Russell SD, et al. Use of a continuous-flow device in patients awaiting heart transplantation. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:885–896
  4. Baughman KL, Jarcho JA. Bridge to life—cardiac mechanical support. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:846–849
  5. Goldstein DJ, Oz MC, Rose EA. Implantable left ventricular assist devices. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:1522–1533
  6. Haft J, Armstrong W, Dyke DB, et al. Hemodynamic and exercise performance with pulsatile and continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices. Circulation. 2007;116:I8–I15
  7. Bedi M, Kormos R, Winowich S, et al. Ventricular arrhythmias during left ventricular assist device support. Am J Cardiol. 2007;99:1151–1153
  8. Refaat M, Chemaly E, Lebeche D, et al. Ventricular arrhythmias after left ventricular assist device implantation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2008;31:1246–1252
  9. Andersen M, Videbaek R, Boesgaard S, et al. Incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients on long-term support with a continuous-flow assist device (HeartMate II). J Heart Lung Transplant. 2009;28:733–735
  10. Ziv O, Dizon J, Thosani A, et al. Effects of left ventricular assist device therapy on ventricular arrhythmias. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;45:1428–1434
  11. Foo D, Walker BD, Kuchar DL, et al. Left ventricular mechanical assist devices and cardiac device interactions: an observational case series. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2009;32:879–887
  12. Salzberg SP, Lachat ML, Zund G, et al. Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) enables survival during 7 h of sustained ventricular fibrillation. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004;26:444–446
  13. Nishimura M, Ogiwara M, Ishikawa M, et al. Fifteen-month circulatory support for sustained ventricular fibrillation by left ventricular assist device. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;126:1190–1192
  14. Oz MC, Rose EA, Slater J, et al. Malignant ventricular arrhythmias are well tolerated in patients receiving long-term left ventricular assist devices. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1994;24:1688–1691
  15. Fasseas P, Kutalek SP, Kantharia BK. Prolonged sustained ventricular fibrillation without loss of consciousness in patients supported by a left ventricular assist device. Cardiology. 2002;97:210–213

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 Supervising editor: Deborah B. Diercks, MD

 Reprints not available from the authors.

 Funding and support: By Annals policy, all authors are required to disclose any and all commercial, financial, and other relationships in any way related to the subject of this article that might create any potential conflict of interest. The authors have stated that no such relationships exist. See the Manuscript Submission Agreement in this issue for examples of specific conflicts covered by this statement.

 Publication dates: Available online July 31, 2010.

PII: S0196-0644(10)00495-6

doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2010.05.023

Annals of Emergency Medicine
Volume 57, Issue 1 , Pages 25-28 , January 2011

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