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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Utilizing Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Devices in Acute Myocardial Infarction Complicated by Cardiogenic Shock
Published on: June 12, 2021
A Case of Cough-induced Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient with a Left Ventricular Assist Device
Emily Sue Ruckdeschel1, Eugene Wolfel1, Duy Thai Nguyen1
1Section of Electrophysiology, Cardiology Division, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Abstract:
In this case, the patient's ventricular tachycardia (VT) was specifically induced by coughing, which has not previously been described. Decreasing the rotational speed of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and increasing preload by stopping the patient's nitrates and reducing diuretic dose allowed improved filling of the left ventricle (LV) and increased LV volumes. When coughing recurred, the effects on the LV cavity were less pronounced and thus VT was reduced. Although ventricular arrhythmias are common after LVAD placement, this is a unique case in which VT was caused by coughing, which is ordinarily not considered arrhythmogenic.
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