A Tragic Case of Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Failure

Abstract

The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend a wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) for certain conditions or scenarios. WCD is felt to provide adequate protection against ventricular arrhythmias. This case highlights failure of a WCD to detect and deliver life-saving therapy and the need for improved detection algorithms. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.)

Keywords

• TruVector detection algorithm
• ventricular fibrillation
• ventricular tachycardia
• wearable cardioverter defibrillator