Short bursts of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia associated with acute myocardial infarction are common and are usually self limited. Etiologies to be considered in our patient include ongoing myocardial ischemia, myocardial necrosis, successful thrombolysis with reperfusion and electrolyte abnormalities.
VT treatment
There are several approaches to non-sustained ventricular tachycardia that occurs early in the setting of an acute myocardial infarction. Most physicians favor observation alone. Beta blockers should be considered if the patient is not already being treated with this drug. Other drug therapies include amiodarone, lidocaine and procainamide. Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia should be corrected if present.
Our patient had several episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia and was treated with intravenous lidocaine. No further arrhythmias were noted.
Our patient
Our patient remained entirely stable. A follow-up electrocardiogram was obtained.