Quinidine sulfate may be crucial for treating a rare but highly lethal form of arrhythmia seen in patients following AMI or coronary revascularisation, Australian cardiologists report.

In their small case series, the doctors document the management and outcomes of three adults with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PMVT) storm 3-5 days after CABG surgery.

In all three cases, the PMVT was triggered by monomorphic ventricular ectopy with a short coupling interval in the absence of acute ischaemia — a phenomenon known as angry Purkinje syndrome — that resulted in multiple cardioversions and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) insertions.

The Alfred Health-led team in Melbourne said acute coronary ischaemia was ruled out based on coronary angiogram and graft study.