Pectoral myopotentials

Patient

A patient recipient of a Medtronic Virtuoso DR ICD was hospitalized for syncope and electric shock



Trace

  1. sinus rhythm, with repetitive AR-VS cycles (extension of the PRAPV to 400 ms, the device considering the ventricle cycle as a PVC);
  2. T wave oversensing during 2 cycles;
  3. prolonged T-wave oversensing with nearly similar RT and TR intervals;
  4. diagnosis of VF; charge of the capacitors;
  5. burst during charging; the first paced cycle is delivered during the vulnerable period (between onset and peak of the T-wave);
  6. induction of a polymorphic very fast ventricular arrhythmia;
  7. at the end of charge, confirmation of the arrhythmia (the first cycle following the end of charge is labeled VR in relation to the short blanking duration related to the end of charge);
  8. shock delivered;
  9. return to sinus rhythm;

Comments

This tracing highlight the potential risks associated with inappropriate therapies delivered in the context of T-wave oversensing. Both shocks and ATP may induce life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias since they can be delivered during the vulnerable period. Shocks are synchronized either on the R-wave or on the T-wave (50%/50%). In this case, the first paced cycle of the ATP sequence corresponds also to the onset-to peak of the T-wave explaining the induction of a real episode of VF. The diagnosis made by the device was initially wrong (false VF) but turned to be finally right after acceleration into a polymorphic ventricular arrhythmia.

he device considers this episode as a VF with delivery of a burst during charging and a 35 Joules shock.

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