title: Inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharge from sensing of external alternating current leak.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wadhwa
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luckett
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: Ulrika
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Birgersdotter-Green
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feld
mesh_terms: 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*