Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in septicemia

Sixteen episodes of ventricular tachycardia and/or fibrillation, 12 of which occurred during shaking chills, were recorded in six patients with septicemia. All patients were greater than 60 years of age and had suffered a previous myocardial infarction. Patients who survived the condition sustained no further arrhythmias during a follow-up period of 1 to 4 years, despite the fact that no antiarrhythmic medication was administered. It is suggested that patients greater than 60 years of age who had suffered a previous myocardial infarction should be carefully monitored during septic episodes and especially during shaking chills, since these may represent vulnerable periods facilitating the precipitation of potentially lethal arrhythmias.