Internal cardioverter defibrillator: component failure.
Sudden death occurred in a patient with congestive cardiomyopathy, sustained ventricular tachycardia refractory to amiodarone, and an automatic internal cardioverter defibrillator. Interrogation of the AICD at the time of death was indicative of malfunction. Postmortem analysis documented component failure involving a voltage regulating transistor resulting in prolonged charge times.
Vlay
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Stony Brook Arrhythmia Study, State University of New York 11794-8171.
Olson
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LC
Burger
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D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000628:therapy; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000628:therapy