Sarcoidosis mimicking ischaemic ventricular arrhythmia and pulmonary embolism

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder characterised pathologically by the presence of noncaseating granulomas in the organs involved. Cardiac involvement, although well known, is rare. We describe a 72-year-old patient who was admitted to the intensive care unit after coronary artery bypass grafting. She developed refractory right and left ventricular failure complicated by multiple organ failure and died three days later. Postmortem examination revealed extensive sarcoidosis. On hindsight, preoperative ventricular tachycardia and an abnormal perfusion-ventilation scintigraphy of the lungs were manifestations of an underlying sarcoidosis.