title: Near fatal electrical storm in a patient equipped with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for Brugada syndrome.
abstract: A patient with Brugada syndrome experienced incessant ventricular fibrillation 7 years after implantation of an ICD. General anesthesia, fast ventricular pacing, bretylium, and atenolol infusion were ineffective; amiodarone infusion was started. After 190 defibrillation shocks over 36 hours, the electrical storm stopped. A multiorgan failure occurred as a complication of the electrical storm and necessitated prolonged reanimation. Thorough cardiac evaluation revealed no structural abnormality and the patient, now on chronic oral amiodarone therapy, remains free of arrhythmia 1 year after the event.
authors.affiliation: Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, CHU Marseille, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chalvidan
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Deharo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dieuzaide
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Defaye
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Djiane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*