ABSTRACT
Background and aim Ventricular tachycardia (VT) represents the most frequent cause of sudden cardiac death. Information on clinical characteristics, acute management and outcome of patients with sustained VT is limited in our part of world. The aim of this study was to analyze the demography, hemodynamics, ECG features, underlying disease, mode of termination and outcome of patients presenting with VT. Methods This single center cohort study represents total of 107 patients of VT enrolled over 45 months. Results Mean age was 45 years and 59 of the patients were males. Thirty three of these patients were hemodynamically unstable (31%) and 74 were stable (69%) Coronary artery disease was the most common etiological factor accounting for 39% of patients followed by non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Determinants of hemodynamic instability were VT in course of acute myocardial infarction (8 out of fourteen) and polymorphic pattern of VT (13 out of 26). Spontaneous termination of VT occurred in seven patients, antiarrythmic drugs terminated VT in 53 of 67 patients and in remaining 45 patients VT was terminated with direct current (DC) cardioversion. Total of twenty three patients died during the hospital stay. Factors that contributed to mortality were old age, hemodynamic instability and low ejection fraction. Conclusion Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of VT. Hemodynamically unstable VT occurs more frequently in acute myocardial infarction and polymorphic VT. Most effective method of VT termination is DC cardioversion. Old age, hemodynamic instability and ejection fraction contribute to overall mortality in VT.
ABSTRACT
Background: Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) constitutes an important manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD). VT can occur in the immediate acute myocardial infarction (MI) period, further complicating the management. VT also occurs after long duration of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the healed MI. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical presentation, hemodynamic status, treatment received and finally the outcome of CAD patients manifesting as sustained VT. Materials and methods: This prospective study was conducted at Sher I Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), a tertiary care center in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, between August 2013 to May 2016. All the cases of definite sustained VT already admitted in the hospital or Rahul Sudan, Mehroz Ahmed, Khursheed Aslam, Irfan Yaqoob, Gunjan Gupta, Shantanu Aggarwal. Sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) in coronary artery disease (CAD): A study from tertiary care center in north India. IAIM, 2018; 5(2): 160- 167. Page 161 presenting in the emergency department including those who developed VT during the course of acute MI were evaluated. Results: In our study, a total of 35 patients of CAD manifesting as sustained VT were observed. Majority of these patients were males. The most common presenting symptom was chest pain seen in a total of 14 patients. A total of 23 patients (66%) were hemodynamically stable at the time of VT. A decreased Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF <50%) was seen in 18 patients (51%). Monomorphic VT was seen in a total of 28 patients (80%) and the rest of 7 patients showed polymorphic VT. Mortality was seen in 8 patients (23%). Conclusion: Polymorphic pattern of sustained VT, hemodynamic instability at the time of VT and a decreased LVEF are associated with increased mortality in patients of CAD manifesting as VT.