Open AccessCatecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: The Cardiac Arrest Where Epinephrine Is Contraindicated*
Author(s) -
David Bellamy,
Gabrielle Nuthall,
Stuart R Dalziel,
Jonathan R. Skinner
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pediatric critical care medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.299
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1947-3893
pISSN - 1529-7535
DOI - 10.1097/pcc.0000000000001847
Subject(s) - medicine , catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia , ventricular fibrillation , ventricular tachycardia , flecainide , extracorporeal membrane oxygenation , cardiology , epinephrine , anesthesia , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , defibrillation , resuscitation , tachycardia , atrial fibrillation , ryanodine receptor 2 , ryanodine receptor , calcium
To raise awareness among pediatric intensive care specialists of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; an uncommon cause of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation arrest in children and young adults where epinephrine (adrenaline), even when given according to international protocols, can be counter-productive and life-threatening. We review three cases of cardiac arrest in children, later proven to be catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia related, where delay in recognition of this condition resulted in significantly longer resuscitation efforts, more interventions, and a longer time to return of spontaneous circulation.