title: Energy drink-induced near-fatal ventricular arrhythmia prevented by an intracardiac defibrillator decades after operative "repair" of tetralogy of Fallot.
abstract: We describe a 45-year old man who experienced a potentially fatal arrhythmia after consumption of multiple energy drinks. At 5 years old, he underwent "repair" of tetralogy of Fallot using a patch in the right ventricular outflow tract, and at age 40 had an automatic implantable cardiac defibrillator (AICD) placed. His first AICD shock occurred within 30 minutes after he finished the third energy drink and was preceded by feelings of lightheadedness and severe dizziness. Without the AICD, he likely would have died. The risk of consuming energy drinks in those with underlying structural heart disease and the general population should be determined. Warning labels should be required to inform consumers of the risks posed by these drinks and of appropriate limits for consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Alexandra E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan. Electronic address: slipshultz@med.wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lipshultz
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine and Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Stacy D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D061215:Energy Drinks / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors