Wide complex tachycardia – diagnostic and therapeutic challenges

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with ventricular arrhythmias and with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. In these cases, wide complex tachyarrhythmias are frequently a diagnostic challenge. The efficiency of antiarrhythmic drug therapy is limited and often the implantation of a cardiac defibrillator is required. We hereby present the case of a 68 year old male patient known with dilated cardiomyopathy, who experienced a syncopal episode as the clinical expression of a wide complex tachycardia. The recorded electrocardiogram identified ventricular tachycardia originated in the right ventricle or in the interventricular septum. The electrocardiograms recorded before and after the syncopal episode showed a major left bundle-branch block and a first degree atrioventricular block. 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring detected ventricular tachycardia originating in the left ventricle. The etiology of the dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias and conduction abnormalities could not be identified. During the electrophysiological study, no sustained supraventricular or ventricular tachyarrhythmias were triggered. The pharmacological treatment has been optimized and a cardiac defibrillator was implanted. The particularity of this case consists in the presence of multiple rhythm disturbances originating both in the left and right ventricle, in a patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and conduction disturbances at several levels.