Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in septicemia.
Sixteen episodes of ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation, 12 of which occurred during shaking chills, were recorded in six patients with septicemia. All patients were greater than 60 years of age and had suffered a previous myocardial infarction. Patients who survived the condition sustained no further arrhythmias during a follow-up period of 1 to 4 years, despite the fact that no antiarrhythmic medication was administered. It is suggested that patients greater than 60 years of age who had suffered a previous myocardial infarction should be carefully monitored during septic episodes and especially during shaking chills, since these may represent vulnerable periods facilitating the precipitation of potentially lethal arrhythmias.
D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology