Inducible monomorphic sustained ventricular tachycardia in the conscious pig

Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) is of clinical importance but has not been readily modeled in conscious animals. Eleven pigs had myocardial infarction induced by pulling snares previously placed around the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Six days after occlusion, bipolar pacing catheters were inserted in the right ventricular apex for induction of VT. Testing was repeated in conscious pigs on 6 out of 8 to 19 days after infarction. Monomorphic VT was induced in each animal during each session, using three to four extrastimuli. VT was terminated by burst pacing in 74% of trials; average VT rate was 362 +/- 26 beats/min. VT was prevented in four of eight animals by procainamide and in five of eight animals by magnesium, but was not prevented by lidocaine or metoprolol. The model may be useful in the study of potentially malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias, important prodromes for sudden death.