Failure to Treat Torsades de Pointes

Abstract

A healthy 22 year old male with no history of cardiac disease was admitted with severe community acquired pneumonia that was ini- tially treated with moxifloxacin and azithromycin. At admission, he was found to be hypokalemic and hypomagnesemic. Two days after admission, he experienced several episodes of Torsades de Pointes (TdP). He was initially treated with isoproterenol. A temporary transvenous pacemaker was inserted and set at a rate of 100 bpm. After correction of electrolytes, withdrawal of QT-prolonging med- ications and ventricular pacing at the mentioned heart rate, another episode of TdP ensued. We report and discuss a case of recurrent TdP in spite of conventional acute management for this condition. Articles (copyright) The authors. Journal compilation (copyright) Cardiol Res and Elmer Press(trademark).