Recurrent ventricular tachycardia associated with gangrene.

Ventricular tachycardia occurs with myocardial ischaemia, hypoxia, hypercarbia, hypokalaemia, and digitalis toxicity. We report recurrent ventricular tachycardia occurring in a patient with gangrene of the lower extremities in whom none of the common aetiologies for dysrhythmia could be demonstrated. Ventricular tachycardia stopped and did not recur after amputation. This course leads us to speculate that release of a toxic substance from gangrenous tissue may contribute to the development of ventricular tachycardia.