Key result
Blunt chest trauma triggers immediate sustained fascicular VT without causing sudden cardiac death.
Why the study?
Acute dysrhythmic events after blunt chest trauma are well described, but sustained ventricular dysrhythmias without sudden cardiac death can occur immediately and must be differentiated from more common supraventricular tachycardias.
Case Report (n=1)
Sustained fascicular ventricular tachycardia can occur immediately following blunt chest injury and must be differentiated from supraventricular tachycardia.
Blunt chest trauma may trigger fascicular VT in adolescents; leaves open optimal acute management and need for prospective data.
Background Acute dysrhythmic events after blunt chest trauma are a well-described clinical entity. These can present as either immediate sudden cardiac death from ventricular fibrillation or delayed (typically in the presence of underlying structural heart disease). Case report We present a case of a 14-year-old male with a sustained broad complex tachycardia immediately following blunt chest trauma. This was later diagnosed as fascicular ventricular tachycardia with an incomplete right bundle branch block (QRS 106msec) and left axis deviation (QRS axis −67). Why should an emergency physician be aware of this Sustained ventricular dysrhythmias without sudden cardiac death can occur immediately following a blunt chest injury. Clinicians need to differentiate fascicular ventricular tachycardia as an important electrocardiographic diagnosis, from the more common supraventricular tachycardia. This usually occurs in patients with structurally normal hearts and is classically verapamil sensitive.
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Hurley et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Sustained ventricular tachycardia following blunt chest trauma (n=1). Blunt chest trauma was evaluated on Sustained broad complex tachycardia (fascicular ventricular tachycardia). Blunt chest trauma in a 14-year-old male resulted in immediate sustained fascicular ventricular tachycardia without sudden cardiac death.
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