Man Survives 250+ Heart Shocks Post-Surgery

A 65-year-old religious scholar required extensive medical intervention after developing a dangerous ventricular tachycardia storm post-surgery. This condition involves repeated episodes of dangerously fast heart rhythm.

The patient had initially undergone a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in 2012. He presented with chest pain and breathlessness, revealing critical blockages and earlier graft failure, with his heart's pumping function reduced to 27%.

A team at SIMS Hospital performed a repeat CABG to restore blood flow. Approximately 24 hours after this procedure, he began experiencing recurrent ventricular tachycardia that did not respond to medication.

Over five consecutive days in the intensive care unit, the patient needed over 250 defibrillator shocks to stabilize his heart rhythm. Subsequently, an electrophysiology team performed an endo-epicardial catheter ablation to pinpoint and neutralize the source of the abnormal electrical signals causing the arrhythmia.

A month after the ablation, an Automated Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator was surgically inserted. This device is designed to manage potential future cardiac rhythm disturbances. The patient is currently receiving follow-up care.