Induction of ventricular tachycardia: a promising new technique or clinical electrophysiology gone awry?

Abstract

For patients who present initially with symptomatic ventricular tachycardia, it is reasonable to initiate therapy with a so-called type I antiarrhythmic agent (procainamide, quinidine or disopyramide). No deaths or serious sequelae have been reported from the many centers throughout the world in which techniques for induction of ventricular tachycardia are used. The approach is not clinically indicated for patients with frequent premature ventricular depolarizations or short, unsustained bouts of asymptomatic ventricular tachycardia. [Risk/benefit of this technique used to evaluate drug therapy results is discussed.].