Classic Presentation of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: A Case Report

Syncope is a common reason for children and adolescents to seek care in the emergency department. Often syncopal episodes are benign and most commonly due to a vasovagal event. Occasionally an underlying cardiac arrhythmia is responsible. We present a case report of a 17-year-old male who collapsed during an emotional event and went into cardiac arrest. Emergency department evaluation including imaging, laboratory studies, and EKG indicated the cause of cardiac arrest was likely a primary cardiac arrhythmia. An initial clinical diagnosis of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) was made based on symptom onset during an emotional event, family history of sudden cardiac death, patient age, past episodes of chest pain and palpitations, absence of structural heart defect, and lack of EKG changes after the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The diagnosis was later confirmed with genetic testing. The patient was started on a beta-blocker and a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD, Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA) was placed. Given the rarity of this condition, this diagnosis is often missed, which contributes to increased mortality rates. In children and young adults presenting with syncope without clear etiology in the presence of high-risk features, further evaluation should be performed including referral to cardiology to rule out chronic cardiac arrhythmias.