A Patient with Syncopal Ventricular Tachycardia (Noninducible on Electrophysiologic Study) and Coronary Artery Disease

The case of a 63-year-old patient with coronary artery disease presenting with syncopal sustained ventricular tachycardia is reported. He had very poor ventricular function, an extensive myocardial scar, and limited area of reversible ischemia. Coronary angiographic examination showed a left main equivalent coronary artery disease with critical stenosis. Although this patient should theoretically benefit from revascularization, we decided against this due to the high estimated perioperative mortality rate for coronary artery bypass grafting in such a patient. Therefore, we intensively treated myocardial ischemia and pump failure with digoxon, furosemide, dihydralazine, nitrates, and warfarin and prescribed a back-up defibrillator implant. (Am J Cardiol 1996;78(suppl 5A):105–107)