Electrical Storm in a Patient with Dilated Cardiomyopathy Suppressed with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Abstract

We present the case of a 55-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy and a syncopal episode who developed electrical storm with multiple instances of both monomorphic and polymorphic sustained ventricular tachycardia terminated by shocks in the face of worsening heart failure not responding to triple antiarrhythmic drug therapy including sedation and intubation in the coronary care unit. Hemodynamic improvement after cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillation backup (CRT-D) implantation brought about a dramatic response in the situation. This case report demonstrates the usefulness and efficiency of CRT-D as an option of treating electrical storm by improving ventricular function in the case of electrical instability being an expression of severe pump failure.