Inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharge from sensing of external alternating current leak.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are now an accepted and effective therapy for treatment of survivors of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and prevention of SCD in high-risk patients. Normal ICD function and delivery of therapy depends on appropriate sensing and detection of myocardial electrical potentials. Electromagnetic interference resulting in ICD malfunction is a well-documented phenomenon, however, there are less well-known external sources of interference, which may cause life threatening ICD malfunction. We report a unique case of repeated inappropriate ICD shocks in a ten-year old boy caused by the ICD sensing alternating current from an unexpected external source.
Garg
Ashok
A
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, Cardiac Electrophysiology Program, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.
Wadhwa
Manish
M
Brown
Keith
K
Luckett
Cathy
C
Vaughn
Tim
T
Birgersdotter-Green
Ulrika
U
Feld
Gregory
G
D002648:Child; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004560:Electricity; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000151:congenital / Q000628:therapy*