Exercise tests and ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract

All treadmill exercise tests done at the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Medical Center from 1973 to 1982 were reviewed to identify episodes of ventricular tachycardia (>/=3 consecutive ventricular ectopic complexes) or ventricular fibrillation occurring during or within 8 minutes of cessation of symptom-limited exercise. Of patients with a clinical diagnosis of coronary artery disease (900 tests), ventricular tachycardia occurred in 36 (4.0%) and ventricular fibrillation in 6 (0.7%). Of patients without known coronary disease (1,700 tests), ventricular tachycardia occurred in 12 (0.07%), and no patient had ventricular fibrillation. Most arrhythmias ceased spontaneously and only 5 patients required cardioversion. We conclude that exercise tests are safe, the incidence of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation is low-these arrhythmias occurring largely in patients with known coronary disease-spontaneous return to sinus rhythm is common and no deaths were associated with 2,400 consecutive tests.