Detection of refrigerator-associated 60 Hz alternating current as ventricular fibrillation by an implantable defibrillator.
This report describes a patient with an implantable defibrillator who suffered an inappropriate defibrillation shock upon retrieving some food items from his inadequately earthed refrigerator. Noise typical of electrical interference can be observed in the stored electrogram of the episode. The patient was instructed to earth his home appliances, but he decided to avoid his refrigerator altogether, and has had no subsequent shocks.
Al Khadra
Ayman S
AS
Department of Adult Cardiology, Prince Sultan Cardiac Center, PO Box 7897, X-982, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia. avnrt@hotmail.com
Al Jutaily
Abdulaziz
A
Al Shuhri
Salem
S
D000368:Aged; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*