Polymorphous Ventricular Tachycardia Associated with a Marked Prolongation of the Q-T Interval Induced by Amiodarone

We report the case of a patient who developed a life-threatening polymorphous ventricular tachycardia (PVT) after six weeks of treatment with amiodarone. The Q-T interval was markedly prolonged at 0.86 second. The drug induction of PVT was strongly suggested by the fact that PVT resolved four days after withdrawal of amiodarone when the Q-T interval had shortened to 0.60 second; the arrhythmia has not recurred in the nine months of follow-up since then. Amiodarone, though a very effective antiarrhythmic agent, may induce serious PVT.     

Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Caused by Electrocautery during Pacemaker Generator Change in a Patient with Normal Left Ventricular Function

Pacemaker generator replacement is a simple procedure that is mostly done on outpatient basis. Electrocautery is almost universally used for bleeding control and tissue dissection. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) caused by electrocautery in these procedures is a very uncommon occurrence and an underappreciated possibility with modern day devices. We report a case of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia induced by electrocautery in a patient with normal left ventricular ejection fraction during elective pacemaker generator change.