Arrhythmia With an Exercise Test
Mazen M Kawji1, D Luke Glancy2
1Heartland Cardiovascular Center, Silver Cross Hospital, New Lenox, Illinois.
The American Journal of Cardiology
|July 29, 2020
Insights
A 64-year-old man experienced ventricular fibrillation during an exercise stress test. This event resolved spontaneously, highlighting a potential complication of stress testing in patients with coronary artery disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Established coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant risk factor for cardiac events.
- Exercise stress testing is a common diagnostic tool for evaluating CAD.
Observation:
- A 64-year-old male patient with known CAD presented with symptoms of bradycardia and chest pain.
- During an exercise stress test, the patient developed ventricular fibrillation.
Findings:
- The ventricular fibrillation episode spontaneously resolved without intervention.
- Cardiac enzymes remained normal, suggesting no acute myocardial infarction at presentation.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for serious arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation, during exercise stress testing.
- Careful patient selection and monitoring are crucial during stress tests, especially in individuals with known coronary disease.
Abstract:
A 64-year-old man with known coronary disease presented to the hospital with sinus bradycardia, chest pain, and normal cardiac enzymes. During an exercise stress test he developed ventricular fibrillation that spontaneously resolved.
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