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A Case of Cough-induced Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient with a Left Ventricular Assist Device. Cardiac electrophysiology clinics Ruckdeschel, E. S., Wolfel, E., Nguyen, D. T. 2016; 8 (1): 165–67

Abstract

In this case, the patient's ventricular tachycardia (VT) was specifically induced by coughing, which has not previously been described. Decreasing the rotational speed of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and increasing preload by stopping the patient's nitrates and reducing diuretic dose allowed improved filling of the left ventricle (LV) and increased LV volumes. When coughing recurred, the effects on the LV cavity were less pronounced and thus VT was reduced. Although ventricular arrhythmias are common after LVAD placement, this is a unique case in which VT was caused by coughing, which is ordinarily not considered arrhythmogenic.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ccep.2015.10.019

View details for PubMedID 26920187