Asynchronous ventricular pacing: a rare cause of ventricular tachycardia.

Asynchronous cardiac pacing may induce ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, particularly in patients with ischemic heart disease and possibly other types of myocardial abnormalities. All patients with implanted asynchronous pacemakers, and those whose demand pacemakers operate in asynchronous mode for any reason, are to be considered at risk from this complication. In patients with serious myocardial abnormalities consistent demand pacing should be assured, even if it requires early pacemaker replacement. Anti-arrhythmic agents may prove useful for temporary suppression of pacemaker-induced arrhythmias.