[Exercise test and ventricular tachycardia: the French experience].
The incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmia requiring electric shock or prompt intravenous therapy was evaluated during or immediately after 458,000 exercise tests performed in 46 french centres between 1975 and 1985; 177,000 tests were performed exclusively in cardiac patients during supervised exercise training sessions. Sixty cases of severe arrhythmia (ventricular fibrillation 23, ventricular tachycardia 35, asystole 2) occurred (1/7600 tests). One or several electric shocks were necessary in 35 cases. Six patients died (1/76,333 tests), 2 of them during training sessions; 5 had phase II or III myocardial infarction, and the 6th patient had moderately tight valvular aortic stenosis. The five coronary patients were taking various anti-arrhythmic drugs. Among the 54 survivors, 14 were lost sight of and 4 died, 2 of these suddenly including one who passed away during a bicycle ride. All others are alive after a 3.25 +/- 2.9 years follow-up. The association of a multiple-vessel disease with an extensive fibrous plaque is a syndrome that is highly sensitive but fortunately little specific in predicting severe arrhythmia during exercise tests.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012306:Risk; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology
Epreuve d'effort et tachycardies ventricularies: l'expérience française.