Role of QT prolongation secondary to a postextrasystolic pause as a possible mechanism for the induction of ventricular fibrillation. Report of two cases.
Two patients developed ventricular fibrillation (VF) while undergoing continuous electrocardiographic monitoring. Analysis showed that VF appeared only when a particular combination of circumstances occurred: a postextrasystolic pause, QT prolongation of the subsequent beat and a premature ventricular beat that did not have a short coupling interval. The relevance of this sequence as a trigger mechanism of VF is discussed.
D000368:Aged; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology