Ventricular Fibrillation Due to Digitalis Preparations

Abstract

Contrary to expectations, there are very few substantiated clinical case reports of ventricular fibrillation attributable to digitalis preparations. Two cases, one of them fatal, are here described. The nature of ventricular fibrillation due to digitalis is different from that due to other agents. Hence it may not respond to present methods of treatment in the rare cases when opportunity for treatment exists. It is vital therefore to prevent ventricular fibrillation by the avoidance of digitalis when certain premonitory signs are present.