Electrical Storm With Incessant Ventricular Tachycardia in a COVID-19 Patient: Review of Current Evidence

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• COVID-19 presents with diverse cardiovascular complications, including myocarditis, myocardial infarction, and arrhythmias.
• A prothrombotic state is a key pathogenic factor in COVID-19 cardiovascular manifestations.
• While cardiac arrhythmias are common in severe COVID-19, ventricular arrhythmias are rare.

Observation:

• A 95-year-old African American male with COVID-19 developed sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia.
• The ventricular tachycardia progressed to a life-threatening electrical storm.
• This case highlights a rare but severe cardiac electrical complication of COVID-19.

Findings:

• The case demonstrates that COVID-19 can precipitate fatal ventricular arrhythmias, even in the elderly.
• Early recognition and management of electrical abnormalities are crucial in COVID-19 patients.
• A literature review on electrical storm in COVID-19 is provided, discussing pathophysiology and treatment.

Implications:

• Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for ventricular arrhythmias in COVID-19 patients.
• Prompt identification of cardiac electrical instability can improve patient outcomes.
• Understanding the mechanisms of COVID-19-induced arrhythmias is vital for developing targeted therapies.