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To assess the effects of early thrombolytic therapy on the incidence of clinical and induced ventricular arrhythmias in high risk postmyocardial infarction patients, 32 patients with a transmural anterior myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular aneurysm formation were prospectively evaluated. Sixteen patients (Group A) received routine care because of contraindication to thrombolytic therapy or other factors and 16 (Group B) received either tissue plasminogen activator or streptokinase within 6 h of the onset of chest pain. The two groups were similar in left ventricular ejection fraction (mean ± SD, 28 ± 9% [Group A] versus 30 ± 8% [Group B]) and occurrence of spontaneous nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, new bundle branch block and congestive heart failure. Group B patients had higher peak creatine kinase MB levels (446 ± 336 versus 205 ± 120 IU; p = 0.017) and earlier time to peak creatine kinase values (13.4 ± 6.6 versus 19.1 ± 6.1 h; p = 0.006).

The clinical significance of rapid self-terminating ventricular tachycardia induced during electrophysiologic study was prospectively evaluated in three patient groups with clinical ventricular arrhythmias. Group A (11 patients) had inducible rapid self-terminating ventricular tachycardia only (mean cycle length ≤250 ms and ≥10 beats in duration). In Group B (22 patients) induction of this arrhythmia was followed by the induction of sustained ventricular tachycardia. In Group C (82 patients) sustained ventricular tachycardia was induced without preceding rapid self-terminating ventricular tachycardia.

Objectives. Currently available antiarrhythmic drugs have limited efficacy for short-term, rapid termination of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter.