title: Self-terminated ventricular fibrillation and recurrent syncope.
abstract: Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a lethal arrhythmia that requires immediate cardioversion and is rarely self-terminating. Spontaneous termination is typically associated with more organized activation than sustained VF terminated by shock, but the precise mechanism is unclear. In the present case, we describe a patient with recurrent syncope and documented self-terminating VF, who ultimately underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator insertion. Assessment of the rhythm strip revealed organization of a chaotic rhythm into monomorphic ventricular tachycardia before termination, in supportive of previous reports. In conclusion, self-terminating VF is a very rare condition that can cause syncope.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. ykonstan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Yuval
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Konstantino
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morello
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Zimetbaum
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Josephson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D054059:Coronary Occlusion / Q000150:complications; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*