DC electroconversion of patients with atrial fibrillation admitted to a coronary care unit

Positive radionuclide myocardial infarction pattern after ventricular fibrillation and direct current countershock

A patient is presented in whom direct current counter-shock was applied for primary ventricular fibrillation. He recovered uneventfully and no evidence was found of a myocardial infarction; however, a positive 99m technetium stannous diphosphate scan obtained four days after the defibrillation showed positive findings. This positive scintigram was most probably due to myocardial or skeletal muscular damage consequent to counter-schock, but myocardial necrosis induced by ventricular fibrillation may be another cause. This case demonstrates again that a transmural or subendocardial infarction is not the only circumstance under which an abnormal scintigram can be obtained.