title: Inappropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy due to the detection of premature ventricular complexes.
abstract: Inappropriate shocks delivered by implantable cardioverter-defibrillators may occur in 15%-40% of patients treated with these devices. This article describes a rare cause for inappropriate shocks. Two patients received inappropriate shocks due to the presence of premature ventricular complexes during attempted reconfirmation of ventricular fibrillation. Knowledge of device algorithms for detection and reconfirmation of ventricular fibrillation, designed to have a high degree of sensitivity and therefore lower specificity, allows for reprogramming to avoid further inappropriate shocks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goldberger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Challapalli
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Kadish
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000592:standards*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology