Adenosine-induced ventricular fibrillation in a patient with supraventricular tachycardia

Abstract EN

Adenosine is frequently used for paroxysmal supra ventricular tachycardia (PSVT) treatment in the emergency department (ED).

Atrial and ventricular pro-arrhythmic effects of adenosine were described in the literature, but ventricular fibrillation (VF) secondary to adenosine administration was rarely reported (with an incidence of ,1%).

Reported herein is the first case of a 72-year-old female patient who developed VF hemodynamic collapse after an intravenous administration of adenosine for PSVT treatment.

She had no known pre-excitation or accessory pathway, nor any underlying structural heart disease or prolonged QT syndrome.

Raising awareness of this potential life-threatening pro arrhythmic effect of adenosine is important, given its frequent use for PSVT treatment in the ED.