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Prolonged sustained ventricular fibrillation without loss of consciousness in patients supported by a left ventricular assist device. Cardiology 2002;97(4):210-3

Date

07/30/2002

Pubmed ID

12145476

DOI

10.1159/000063111

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0036048966 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   29 Citations

Abstract

Patients with cardiomyopathy of either ischemic or nonischemic origin are at increased risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Normally sustained ventricular fibrillation (VF) leads to death very rapidly. We report two patients who remained in sustained VF, supported by a left ventricular assist device, for a prolonged period of time. Perfusion pressure through the device was sufficient to allow the patients to remain awake and responsive for several hours while in VF. The cases represent two of the longest reported episodes of sustained VF recorded in awake patients implanted with such devices.

Author List

Fasseas P, Kutalek SP, Kantharia BK

Author

Panayotis Fasseas MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Heart Failure
Heart-Assist Devices
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Time Factors
Unconsciousness
Ventricular Fibrillation