Artifact mimicking non-sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in a patient with recent myocardial infarction

摘要

A 78-year-old woman with a history of recent myocardial infarction was admitted to the coronary care unit because of dyspnea. The baseline ECG revealed sinus rhythm of 90 beats/min. Two hours after her admission, her body temperature raised to 38.8 degrees Cel-cius accompanied by shaking chills. Wide complex tachycardia runs consistent with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia synchronous with shaking chills were noticed on the monitor. Closer observation of the ECG revealed the presence of normal QRS complexes at the cycle length of baseline rhythm. It was presumed that artifact due to shaking chills was responsible for the ECG abnormalities.