Pacemaker-induced ventricular tachycardia in normally functioning ventricular demand pacemakers

Abstract Pacemaker-induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation is a rare event. 1–5 These episodes were mostly found to be initiated by stimulation during the vulnerable period of the myocardium in asynchronous pacemakers (WO), 1–3 in malfunctioning ventricular demand pacemakers (VVI), in an atrioventricular sequential demand pacemaker (DVI) 4 and in an atrial synchronous ventricular inhibited pacemaker (VDD). Pacemaker-induced VT has also been reported during the acute phase of myocardial infarction, during the first 2 days after implantation of the electrode or during hypoxia or electrolyte imbalance. To the best of our knowledge, initiation of VT by a normally functioning pacemaker in the setting of chronic stable coronary heart disease has not yet been described.